A career in the creative field of visual arts takes talent, skill and a strong foundation. There are plenty of arts colleges to study but in an effort to help you nurture your artistic talents and expand creative and practical skills, the study program at Centennial College blends traditional and digital art courses. It also provides you with critical basics for a long-lasting artistic career.

The two-semester Art and Design Foundation Studies program expects students applying for admission to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. The other academic requirement is compulsory English 12C or U, or skills assessment or equivalent. However, possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.

Once requirements are met, students participate in classes that expand their portfolio and prepare them for more specialized programs such as Digital Animation, Interactive Digital Media, Fine Arts Studio, Game Design or Graphic Media Design. The reason you are able to break off into such a wide variety of programs in is because Art and Design Foundation Studies provides you with an idea of what its like to work in many aspects of the art world. Not only do you study a variety of traditional approaches in drawing but there are also introduction classes in digital imaging, animation and digital design. Courses range from Portfolio Development and Professional Practice to Colour Studio, 3D Art and Visual Design Fundamentals and Design Studio. This combination of topics helps with your creativity, but also enhances your practical skills. These practical skills are the base you need to grow as a professional artist.

Andrea Kuehne is a graduate of the Art and Design Foundations program. She says that deciding to enroll is one of the best decisions she ever made. "The staff is outstanding and strived to help me achieve my personal best," she says. "The courses in the program exposed me to many different aspects of the art world and helped me to decide how I wanted to further my education. Not only did Visual Art Fundamentals help me build my portfolio, but, upon completion of the program, I was accepted into Advanced Standing at The Ontario College of Art and Design." Andrea is just one of many students who have been inspired by this respected program.

As Andrea mentioned, staff members who teach the program are an impressive bunch. These professionals are leaders of the industry and a dynamic working relationship between them and students is encouraged. Employers who have built relationships with Centennial also inform staff what skills are needed to ensure that students' education is current, practical and in-depth. Another impressive aspect of the program is that you'll undertake your studies at the Centre of Creative Communications, which houses extensive art facilities. With training from the Art and Design Foundation Studies program, a creative career is only a step away.