Growing student demand for the internationally recognized programs offered at Emily Carr University of Art + Design has initiated an exciting plan for a new home at Great Northern Way in Vancouver.

With the support of the Province, the university will develop a comprehensive business case for the Emily Carr Campus Redevelopment Project. The business case will include:

• An analysis of labour market demand for Emily Carr graduates.
• Development of an indicative design for the project.
• Detailed cost estimates, including capital, facility operations and maintenance requirements.
• An examination of increased accessibility for students to support the growth of the visual, media and design industry.
• Description of sources of funding.

The project envisions a state-of-the-art visual, media and design art facility with capacity for 1,800 students.

Emily Carr's existing campus is located primarily on Granville Island. As a result of growing interest in its programs and limited space, Emily Carr is in need of purpose-built facilities to sustain and enhance its position as an internationally recognized centre of excellence in arts education.

Emily Carr students go on to become communication, interactive and industrial designers, filmmakers, animators, art directors, curators, educators, fine artists and more. Alumni are currently working in B.C. and around the globe for companies that include Microsoft Games Studio, the Vancouver Art Gallery, RIM/Blackberry, Science World, Apple Inc., Vanity Fair, Mattel Inc. and Lululemon Athletica.

Founded in 1925 as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, Emily Carr University of Art + Design is one of the oldest post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. It is the only post-secondary institution in B.C. offering programs exclusively in fine/visual arts, media arts and design, and one of only four such institutions in Canada.

Operating funding from the Province to Emily Carr University has increased from $9.7 million in 2001-02 to $13.3 million in 2011-12 - a 37.6 per cent increase. In addition, the Province has invested $3.7 million in capital projects at Emily Carr.

Budget 2012 provides for over $460 million in capital investments at B.C. public post-secondary institutions over the next three years for new and expanded facilities and directed to ensuring safe, functional and efficient facilities.

Quotes:

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of Advanced Education -

"While we're exercising spending restraint across government and asking our public post-secondary institutions to find administrative efficiencies, we're also providing carefully considered, responsible investments to ensure current and future students have the quality programs, facilities and opportunities they need to succeed in their studies and careers."

"Emily Carr can now advance to the next phase in its exciting plans for a new campus, and I look forward to continuing discussions with the university on the proposed project."

Dr. Ron Burnett, president and vice-chancellor, Emily Carr University of Art + Design -

"We applaud the Government of British Columbia in their support of Emily Carr in this next phase of our plans for a new campus. Emily Carr University is recognized globally as a leader in higher arts and design education, and as a place where art and design not only have an impact on culture but also on our economy."

"Our students and alumni are bringing creativity into the workplace, starting companies and generating new opportunities for prosperity. A new campus will provide future jobs for British Columbia while defining our province as an international centre of excellence for the creative industries."

Quick Facts:

• Emily Carr University of Art + Design is a public post-secondary university offering four-year programs leading to bachelor degrees in fine arts, media arts and design, and a two-year applied master degree in visual arts, media arts and design. It also offers a range of certificate programs and continuing studies courses on a part-time basis.
• In 2001, Finning International donated a parcel of land to Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of British Columbia (UBC) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in what is now known as the Great Northern Way Campus. The site is located at Great Northern Way and East 1st Ave. in Vancouver.
• In 2006, the provincial government provided a $40.5-million operating endowment to the Great Northern Way Trust (Emily Carr, UBC, SFU, BCIT) to get the masters of digital media program started at Great Northern Way Campus - Canada's first graduate program in digital media.

Learn More:

Emily Carr University of Art + Design: http://www.ecuad.ca/

Great Northern Way Campus: http://gnwc.ca/

B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education: http://www.gov.bc.ca/aved/index.html

Contact:

Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400
250 893-5650 (cellular)