Emily Carr University of Art + Design

10/14/2026

How do you sustain a 50-year friendship?

Artists Chick Rice and Louise-Francis Smith know that friendship takes nurturing and passion. Ever since they met in class in 1976 at the Vancouver School of Art (later ECU) they were impressed by each others' artistic expression.

From career changes and articulating their vision, Chick and Louise acknowledge that having a friend who comprehends the dedication required to pursue an art career can be crucial.

They have joined forces to pay it forward through the Two Friends Scholarship to support and validate the work of photography students. Through this scholarship, Louise and Chick are offering a helping hand to the next generation to pursue their passions unencumbered by the drawbacks that can hold them back and make friends who propel them further.

Learn more about Chick and Louise's friendship: https://ow.ly/oqap50ZXNhx

10/13/2026

Tickets are on sale! Join us on Sat, Nov 7 at the Vancouver Art Gallery for a once-in-a-century celebration! 🥳

As we close out 100 years of creativity sparking change, we’re bringing our community together for an evening of music, performances, refreshments and more, celebrating the people who have shaped our creative legacy past, present and future.

And what’s a celebration without a reason to dress up? Express yourself through fashion inspired by our Past, Present + Future theme. Think bellbottoms, a leather jacket, a space suit or something entirely your own. Your imagination is the only limit!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours while you can: https://ow.ly/pYS450ZXiC9

ECU 100 | Past, Present + Future
🗓️ Saturday, November 7
⏰ 7 – 11 PM
📍 Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street

Celebrate with us as we close out our centennial year.

10/06/2026

New podcast alert! 🗣️

As part of ECU 100, ECU’s centennial celebrations, we’ve got a new podcast exploring the past and potential futures of regional culture through the lens of the people and organizations at its heart.

Hosted by ECU faculty members Jefferson Alade (MDes 2023) and Robin Mitchell Cranfield (BDes 2002), ECU 100: Open Studios brings listeners into the organizations, studios and working spaces that animate the art and design world, connecting ECU to Vancouver and beyond.

Episode 1 just dropped, and features artists Renée Van Halm, Landon Mackenzie, Diyan Achjadi, Emily Hermant and David Macgillivray, all of whom maintain studios at the same historic building near ECU campus.

Intro/outro music provided by Kim Gordon.

Learn more about the podcast: https://ow.ly/kHyZ50ZVaPt

Look for the 'Made At ECU' channel wherever you find podcasts and subscribe to get all the exciting new episodes: https://ow.ly/6wOL50ZVaPq

10/02/2026

There’s still time to join us for a short course this fall! 🍁

Try something new, build your creative skills or dedicate more time to something you enjoy, with evening and weekend classes available online and in person.

Starting throughout October and November:
• Oil Painting
• Colour Theory
• The Graphic Novel
• Introductory UX Design
• Financial Practices for Gig Work + Independent Practitioners
…and many more!

Browse the full course catalogue here: https://ow.ly/7Gu850ZSoHx

10/02/2026

A resounding congratulations to esteemed artists and ECU Honorary Degree recipients Faye HeavyShield and Carole Itter, both of whom were recently recognized with a 2026 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts for Artistic Achievement.

Both artists are renowned for their lifelong dedication to thoughtful, expansive practices and a depth of perspective that has enlivened both their respective milieus and the world more broadly.

“Disarming in its beauty and widely accessible due to its minimalist vocabulary, HeavyShield’s work fosters greater understanding of Indigenous outlooks while offering next generations of Indigenous artists from the Northern Plains and across Turtle Island an outstanding example of a successful career and a profoundly ethical approach rooted in her culture,” writes Johanna Plant Donnelly of Faye’s work.

“Itter championed feminist and ecological art practices when attention largely focused on her male photo-conceptualist peers in Vancouver,” write Allison Hrabluik and Melanie O’Brian of Carole’s practice. “Her perseverance and integrity have yielded a remarkable body of work that continues to speak directly to our current concerns. It was always speaking to these concerns—we just needed to catch up.”

Visit our website to view our stories and videos featuring Faye and Carole:

https://ow.ly/yNGo50ZU3jW
https://ow.ly/btov50ZU3jV

10/01/2026

🎉 Applications are now open for undergraduate programs starting in Summer and Fall 2027!

Ready to make what matters?

Bring your ideas and ambitions to ECU, where you’ll grow through hands-on learning and build skills for a future in the creative industries.

Apply by January 15, 2027.
Get started today: https://ow.ly/1Qgq50ZTJJh

09/29/2026

Join us at ECU on Sept. 29 at 5pm for a reception celebrating 15 years of innovation from ECU’s Design for Social Innovation + Sustainability (DESIS) Lab, the only lab of its kind in Canada.

Taking place in the final weeks of ECU 100, ECU’s centennial celebrations, ‘From Here with DESIS: Designing for All Beings’ spotlights the ongoing work of designers committed to supporting and advancing a more sustainable future.

“‘From Here with DESIS’ grew partly from a desire to tell the story of our work attending to place-based learning, community support for sustainable biodiversity, and relations with nature, as well as bringing work from different moments and perspectives into relation,” write ECU faculty members Charlotte Falk, Hélène Day Fraser, Laura Kozak and Dr. Louise St. Pierre, who lead ECU’s DESIS Lab.

“The exhibition, paired with the symposium and active studio, create space for this work to move forward.”

Attendance is free + open to the public.

Read our story on the past, present and future of ECU’s incredible DESIS Lab!

https://ow.ly/Htg950ZSO0l

09/28/2026

Join us for the Audain Lecture Series as a part of our ECU100 celebrations, happening this fall! Supported by the Audain Foundation, the series brings together artists from around our community to hold workshops, screenings, performances, artist talks and gatherings at keystone arts institutions throughout the City of Vancouver.

“Throughout our centennial year, we’ve emphasized our place in the community – the many ways ECU alumni create impact across the city and across the globe,” says Vanessa Kwan, Director + Curator of Galleries and Exhibitions at ECU. “The Audain Lecture series draws out this thread with an emphasis on learning and creation. You’ll find intimate workshops and newly commissioned performances alongside curated conversations. It’s a love letter to creation, impact and legacy.”

Read the full story or find more information about the events here: https://ow.ly/CpmJ50ZSqmk

09/28/2026

As part of a multi-year, federally funded research project supporting environmental stewardship, a trio of emerging artists helped bring a vibrant new public artwork to Granville Island.

Full story: https://ow.ly/63G750ZSoYE

09/25/2026

Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day in Canada. This day offers the opportunity to learn, reflect, and honour residential school survivors' experiences.

We wear orange as a symbol of solidarity which affirms that Every Child Matters and recognizes the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples.

Check out the ECU events we’ve organized during the week and in community here: https://ow.ly/FbPL50ZRFjr

🖼️ Artwork: 'Bison Homecoming', 2026, Gouache, Pencil Crayon, Neocolor II by Hannah Strocel