Education · 1 of 4

The path

There is no licence and no required school. What you build instead is a body of work, a record of shows and a grant history.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 10 to 12

   Visual arts, and make work outside class. Enter juried student shows. Keep everything photographed.

2. 2

   Art school, or not

   0 to 4 years

   A Bachelor of Fine Arts at a place like OCAD University (Ontario College of Art and Design), Emily Carr University of Art and Design, NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) or Concordia University. Or a college studio diploma. Or neither.

3. 3

   First shows

   While in school and after

   Group shows at artist-run centres, cafes, small commercial galleries. This is how a record starts.

4. 4

   First grants

   1 to 5 years out

   Provincial arts councils usually have an emerging artist stream with lower requirements than the federal one. Apply, get rejected, apply again.

5. 5

   Gallery representation

   3 to 10 years out

   A commercial gallery takes you on, or you keep selling directly and applying for commissions. Both are real careers.