February 19, 2008
Vancouver, British Columbia
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, today announced $490,000 for the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. The funding will generate new opportunities for British Columbia's new media, creative arts and design industries.
"The Emily Carr Institute is a leader in new media technology. Its graduates include artists, designers, technologists, researchers and educators, who are among the most highly sought after professionals in their fields," said the Honourable Rona Ambrose. "B.C. is already a strong marketplace for the entertainment, film and media industries, and this investment will bolster the province's position as a leader in Canada's digital media sector."
The Emily Carr Institute will purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its Intersections Digital Studios to help advance the training of students in digital methodologies and techniques. Leading-edge technologies, such as an ultra high definition camera (4K), high definition stereographic wall, hand motion capture and wearable electronics are included in the package. The new equipment will improve applied research and development capabilities within the province's already strong digital media sector.
"Western Economic Diversification Canada's contribution will allow us to expand the capabilities of the studios in the direction of stereographic capture and projection, digital cinema, rapid prototyping, interactive wearables, and gestural interfaces," says Dr. Maria Lantin, Director, Intersections Digital Studios. "We are also pleased to be increasing the capacity of our render farm and which will be linked with the rendering cluster at the Great Northern Way Campus. This link will create a one-of-a-kind distributed render farm that will greatly benefit both institutions."
Founded in 1925, the Emily Carr Institute for Art and Design has grown from a small art school into a post-secondary degree-granting institution with over 1,500 full-time students. Its mission is to develop informed creative artists, designers and media practioners who can contribute their creative output and research to Canada's economy and cultural sector. ECI currently offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, General Fine Arts, and Photography; a Bachelor of Design in Communication Design and Industrial Design, and a Bachelor of Media Arts in Animation or Integrated Media. In 2006, ECI launched a Master of Applied Arts degree (MAA), in each of the three streams, Design, Media Arts and Visual Arts. The MAA is a two-year full-time program with a four-month internship component between the first and second year.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.For additional information, contact: Jillian GloverCommunications AdvisorWestern Economic Diversification CanadaVancouver, British ColumbiaTel: (604) 666-7543Cell: (604) 306-1386Roxanne TorontoCommunications Officer, Foundation + DevelopmentEmily Carr Institute Tel: 604.844.3075Cell: 778.990.3075
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
