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NSCAD University

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NSCAD University

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Shaping art, design and craft in Canada since 1887. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia

NSCAD is no ordinary art institution. What for? What if? Be one of them.

It’s a place for curious minds to freely explore. A place for critical thinkers who never tire of asking why? At NSCAD, we think of curiosity as the spark that ignites everything. And year and year, our halls are filled with new faces who share this same fire. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia – Atlantic Canada’s largest and most vibrant city – NSCAD is an immersive environment in which adventurous thinkers and makers discover their passion and themselves. If you believe that creative ideas can build a better world, there’s a place for you here. NSCAD offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary educational experience that is unlike any other art school in the country. For 130 years, our students, faculty and administrators have shared a commitment to experimentation, progressive thinking and cutting-edge art and design. Many students report that their time here completely shaped the way that they think. It changed their lives. It will change yours too. Some of the most innovative creators of the last century have marched through our halls and spent their days (and nights) in our studios. After leaving NSCAD, members of our alumni community go on to transform ideas into reality, fuelling the creative economy and accomplishing singularly amazing things.

10/16/2026

The Nocturne: Art at Night Festival is in full swing! 🎨🌃

Our very own alumna Annalise Prodor (BFA 2011) curated this year's festival around the theme "Embodied City." The theme invites artists to explore what it means to be embodied in urban environments and create opportunities for audiences to engage with lived experiences in a more direct and meaningful way. 🏙️👨‍🎨

But Annalise isn't the only NSCAD connection at Nocturne this year! Here are 10 NSCAD artists and projects to check out during the festival. 👀✨

1) "held (in)---tension" by Gabe Moore (BFA 2024)
2) "Take Days" by Eleanor King (BFA 2001)
3) "Visible Cities" by Ada Denil (BFA 2023)
4) "Come and Draw with Geordan Moore" a.k.a. The Quarrelsome Yeti (BDes 2007)
5) "Ink, Paper, Imagination" by Andrea Rahal (BDes 2004)
6) "NSCAD Jewellery Dept. Student Exhibition and Enamel Workshop" hosted by Mengnan Qu (BFA 2012)
7) "Festival of BodyWork" by Jacinte Armstrong (MFA 2020)
8) "Black Olives" by Fine Arts faculty Ufuk Gueray
9) "Fit Check" co-hosted by Craft ICA Maggie MacCormick
10) "The Turret: À l'intérieur," featuring works by the students in NSCAD's Painting En Plein Air class, led by RPT Instructor Luke Fair (MFA 2021)

The festival runs until Sunday, October 18, with showcases across Halifax and downtown Dartmouth. 📅

👉See the full schedule on Nocturne's website: https://ow.ly/MsOG50ZYuER

📷Images sourced from Nocturne website and contributing artists.

10/15/2026

Only two more days until NSCAD's Fall Open House! 🤯🍂

Curious about where your creativity could take you? Come see what's possible at NSCAD. 🏫🎒

This Saturday, explore our studios and creative spaces, connect with students and faculty, and discover what it's like to study art and design at NSCAD. Thinking about applying? Bring your portfolio for one-on-one feedback from our faculty! 🎨👨‍🏫

Whether you're ready to take the next step in your creative journey or just starting to explore your options, we'd love to welcome you to campus.

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📍 NSCAD Port Campus | 1107 Marginal Rd., Halifax

This event is FREE, but registration is required!

👉Register on our website: https://ow.ly/wn2l50ZY1wN

📷 Ginger Yu

10/10/2026

Congratulations to Signy Holm (MAAE 2025), whose thesis, "Wayfinding Through Waste: A Collective Living Archive of Coast Plastic," has won the 2026 CSEA/SCÉA Master's Thesis Award! 🎉🏆

This is the second national award Signy has received for her MAAE thesis. Her research explores how marine debris can become a site for art, environmental reflection, and community engagement. 🌊♻️

The Canadian Society for Education Through Art (CSEA/SCÉA) is a national organization dedicated to promoting visual arts as an essential part of learning in schools, colleges, universities, and communities.

"This award came as a huge surprise, and it feels incredible to be recognized by CSEA, an organization that is highly respected in the arts education community," she says. "Really I'm just flattered that there is someone out there who thought my thesis was worth reading!"

Signy is currently working towards publishing her thesis and is in the process of submitting it to the Canadian Review of Art Education. We're so excited for Signy and this incredible milestone.

👉You can read more about Signy's thesis on our website: https://ow.ly/k0bb50ZSjnt

🎓Thinking of pursuing a degree in Master of Arts in Art Education? Applications are now open: https://ow.ly/hJZm50ZSjns

📷 Courtesy of Signy Holm

10/07/2026

Curious about NSCAD? Attend our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 17. 🍂🎒

Whether you’re applying or simply curious about studying art and design, this is a great opportunity to learn more about our programs, meet faculty and students, and get a feel for what our campus has to offer. You’ll also have a chance to receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio and discuss your academic plans.

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📍NSCAD Port Campus, 1107 Marginal Rd.

👉This event is FREE but registration is required. Register now: https://ow.ly/E1iO50ZVAq5

📽️ Yifan Liu

10/05/2026

Last week, the Design Studio 3 class welcomed guest lecturer James Stauch to NSCAD University. 👨‍🏫

Inspired by his recent book, “The 55 Minutes,” Stauch’s lecture urged students to think beyond the boundaries of societal systems and how we approach them. From housing affordability to the impact of Artificial Intelligence, the lecture prompted an in-depth discussion about the challenges facing our ever-changing world. 🌎

Stauch is a social innovation and systems change educator and consultant. He is also a visiting fellow at the Skoll Centre at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and was the founding executive director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University.

Thank you so much to James Stauch for the insightful lecture and to our faculty for organizing the event. 👏

👉Interested in meaningful conversations that can lead to real change? Check out our Interdisciplinary Design program: https://ow.ly/TYlm50ZUGKb

📷 Sarah Poko

09/30/2026

On September 30, we observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day dedicated to honouring Survivors of residential schools, and remembering the children who never returned home to their families and communities.

Today, we also recognize the voices of Indigenous artists and communities, whose work speaks to their resilience, strength, and cultural histories. As an art school, we strive to create spaces where Indigenous art and stories are seen, heard, and respected.

While NSCAD University will be closed for the day, there are other ways to learn and reflect:

1️⃣Wear an Orange Shirt
September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day. Wearing orange is one way to participate in the day and remember that Every Child Matters.

2️⃣Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre
Learn more about Mi'kmaq culture, history, and identity through the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre. The centre also offers a range of resources and services for Mi'kmaw and Indigenous people in Nova Scotia.

3️⃣Indigenous Artists
Seek out opportunities to learn by engaging with Indigenous artists and creatives through art exhibitions, film screenings, artist talks, performances, and more. The Prismatic Arts Festival is one of many festivals that celebrates Indigenous artists across Canada. The festival runs until October 4, 2026.

4️⃣Treaty Day Workshop - hosted by the Treaty Space Gallery
📅Thursday, October 1, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
📍Lab for Us, 1871 Granville St.

The Treaty Space Gallery is another opportunity to learn more about Indigenous histories and contemporary experiences, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism and residential schools.

👉RSVP for the Treaty Day Workshop here: https://ow.ly/GeQR50ZSQNa

Whether it’s educating ourselves, asking questions, or engaging in community events, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to reflect on what that means—and what each of us can do to support that work.

📷 Sarah Poko

09/28/2026

We’re quickly approaching the deadline to submit applications for Winter 2027 undergraduate programs! 🏃‍➡️🎓

Be sure to send your application and supporting documents by Thursday, October 1. Extensions are available upon request, and you can receive a decision in as little as two weeks.🚨

😃 Need some help? Reach out to our friendly Admissions team by emailing [email protected]. 📨

👉Still undecided? Check out our list of undergraduate programs: https://nscad.ca/undergraduate-programs/

We’re excited to welcome you to the NSCAD community! 🐀🎨

09/24/2026

As the days get shorter, so does the countdown to our NSCAD Fall Open House! 🍂🏫

Tour our campus, meet students and faculty, and receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio. Whether you’re considering applying to NSCAD or simply curious about studying art and design, we invite you to visit our creative community and experience our campus firsthand. 🎨

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📍NSCAD Port Campus, 1107 Marginal Rd.

👉This event is FREE but registration is required. Visit our website to register and learn more: https://ow.ly/WNwW50ZR4Vs

📷 Ginger Yu

09/21/2026

Congratulations to photography student and 2026 Student Art Award nominee Tovah Williams, whose work was recently featured in an anthology by ZONE Magazine, an independent art publisher based in Rome, Italy. 📸🇮🇹

Tovah's practice engages with acts of material exploration and experimentation by utilizing photographic techniques and technologies, old and new. Her work is driven by curiosity and a desire to see what’s possible with the resources at hand. 🪲🔍

"It’s surreal to see my work in conversation with so many other exceptional visual artists from around the world," says Tovah. "I could never have anticipated it would reach such a wide audience. It is a privilege to see the work take on a life of its own."

A huge congratulations to Tovah on this exceptional accomplishment! 🎉👏

👉Curious about where photography could take you? Applications are still open for undergraduate students! Check out NSCAD’s Photography program to learn more: https://ow.ly/gLRj50ZNvuQ

📷 Credits
1: Photo spread by Tovah Williams (left page) and Liao Weiyi.
2: Photo by Lois Power.
3: "Kosmos." 7.5 x 9 in. Gelatin silver paper. Tovah Williams, 2025.
4: Courtesy of Tovah Williams.

09/17/2026

As the 2026 Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is in full swing, here are three NSCAD filmmakers to watch for this year! 🎬👀

Alumni Andrea Dorfman (BFA 1995) and Joel MacKenzie (BFA 2008), along with NSCAD film history Professor, Darrell Varga will be screening their films at the AIFF. From animation and documentary storytelling to experimental filmmaking, each of them brings a unique art form and creative innovation that continue to thrive within the NSCAD community.

📽️SCREENINGS:
💌 "Three Kicks at the Can (A Love Story)" by Darrell Varga: TODAY, September 17, 8:30 PM @ Theatre 5

👶"Baby Daddy" by Joel MacKenzie: Saturday, September 19, 4:45 PM @ Theatre 7

🏠 "Homeless to Home" by Andrea Dorfman: Sunday, September 20, 7:00 PM @ Theatre 8

All films will be showing at the Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane, 5657 Spring Garden Rd.🍿

Thinking about where your own stories could take you? Explore our film program at NSCAD and discover where you can experiment, collaborate and develop your voice as a filmmaker:
https://nscad.ca/undergraduate-programs/study-film/

And if you are heading to AIFF this week, join us in celebrating the filmmakers from the NSCAD community whose work is hitting the big screen.

🎟️ Visit the AIFF website for tickets and the full festival schedule: https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

📷 Credits
1) Courtesy of Joel MacKenzie
2) Still from "Baby Daddy." Courtesy of Joel MacKenzie.
3) Courtesy of Andrea Dorfman
4) Still from "Homeless to Home." Courtesy of Andrea Dorfman.
5) Courtesy of Darrell Varga.
6) Still from “Three Kicks at the Can (A Love Story).” Courtesy of Darrell Varga.

Address

5163 Duke Street
Halifax, NS
B3J3J6

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.nscad.ca/

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