Welcome to the Faculty of Fine Arts
This is more than a degree — it’s the beginning of your lifelong creative journey.
The University of Lethbridge is built on diverse ideas, big questions and open minds.
Thinkers, creators, performers and dreamers like you come together at ULethbridge’s Faculty of Fine Arts to shape a better world through creativity.
Our community is built on curiosity, courage and care. You’ll be surrounded by mentors who support and challenge you, classmates who inspire you, and opportunities that expand what you thought was possible.
We empower students to lead transformative change through small class sizes, hands-on learning, world-class facilities and a culture of collaboration.
We don’t just prepare you for a job — we equip you with the skills to see clearly, act purposefully and lead with creativity in everything you do.
Here, your potential isn’t just recognized, it’s supported by everyone around you. Bring your questions. Leave your mark. Let’s create something unforgettable.
Fine Arts Fast Facts
• 4 departments to choose from: Art, Drama, Music and New Media
• 65+ Fine Arts awards & scholarships for students
• 100+ concerts, recitals, productions, exhibitions and events each year
• One of the most significant art collections in Canada
• Small class sizes = more time learning and working with your professors
• 100% of students can take part in Work-Integrated Learning opportunities
“ULethbridge has a wealth of resources available for students to use. A student who comes to ULethbridge to learn and explore will fnd a lot of hands-on opportunities. When I left ULethbridge, I had a stack of experience to set me up for success and ultimately allowed me to have a great career in flm.”
Patricia Jonzon BFA - Multidisciplinary ’14
Dean’s Message
You have the passion. See where curiosity takes you.
Welcome to Piiksinaasin (Manifesting Beauty), the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge.
By joining our creative community of artists, designers, musicians, performers, technicians and creators, you’re taking a bold step toward a future shaped by your imagination. We’re here to give you the tools you need to find artistic fulfilment and support your personal and professional development.
Our vision is to inspire an imaginative and intellectual culture, one that empowers you to lead, create and collaborate in meaningful ways. We offer a comprehensive education with world-class instruction, and we believe deeply in the value of handson, experiential learning.
Arts education plays an important role in society. You’ll build skills in critical thinking, cultural understanding, problem-solving, collaboration and communication — talents that today’s employers are looking for.
Your journey starts with your program. Our diverse and innovative degrees give you the chance to build your education around your interests and goals, equipping you with the ability to address modern social and technological changes and challenges.
Dr. Heather Davis-Fisch Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts Piiksinaasin (Manifesting
Beauty)
Innii Knowledge,
Piiksinaasin [peek-sin-ahk-sin] means Manifesting Beauty.
In 2024, the Faculty of Fine Arts was gifted a Blackfoot name by distinguished Niitsitapi scholar, Iikaisskini (Low Horn), Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04).
Piiksinaasin represents the Faculty of Fine Arts as a place where students create, explore and research, transforming the world around them through creative practice and critical thinking.
Art is an integral part of life. Whether it’s created by hand, expressed through technology, carried in a song, seen through a dance or felt in a gesture, the arts are embodied within us and have a name and a story behind them.
Our name reflects our long-standing relationships with the Blackfoot community, Indigenous artists, and knowledge keepers.
Receiving a Blackfoot name comes with responsibilities. We have a duty to honour Piiksinaasin through enhancing our learning opportunities and purposefully integrating principles of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being into our Faculty.
How will you honour Piiksinaasin and manifest beauty in your creative practice?
acrylic and fine point sharpie on canvas, 20” x 35”, 2022, by Chataya Holy Singer (BFA - Indigenous Art ‘23).
Join Our Creative Community
At ULethbridge, your learning experience is personal.
Whether you’re looking for connection, support or simply a sense of belonging, you’ll find a community here that sees you, empowers you and stands with you.
Cinema studies professor Dr. Aaron Taylor exemplifies this approach by combining dynamic teaching with a focus on student success, critical thinking and communication skills.
Recognized with a Board of Governors Teaching Chair in 2025, Dr. Taylor creates inclusive, collaborative classrooms where students thrive from day one.
“Those who hold the idea that ‘creativity can’t be taught’, overlook the dedication, passion and encouragement of those within the Faculty of Fine Arts who are in the daily habit of lighting sparks, tilling soil and laying foundations. It’s our great privilege to cultivate this vibrancy, and to share in the delight of its emerging possibility.”
Programs
What’s the right degree for me?
Whether you want to dive deep into a particular discipline, combine your interests, or keep your options open, we make it easy to start strong as you find your way forward.
Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music
• Dive deeper into your creative practice and explore more areas within your chosen major.
• Concentrate on your field of interest, gain in-depth experience and improve your artistry.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts & Science
• Broad and generalized, typically requiring fewer Fine Arts courses.
• Build a degree around your diverse interests and explore other areas of study in the fine arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Bachelors of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Art
Art Studio
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Indigenous Art
Art History/Museum Studies
Art Studio
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Dramatic Arts
Dramatic Arts
Performance
Technical/Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Multidisciplinary
Bachelor of Fine Arts - New Media
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Digital Audio Arts
Music 1
Bachelors of Fine Arts Combined Degrees
BFA - Art/Bachelor of Education (Art Education)
BFA - Dramatic Arts/Bachelor of Education (Drama Education)
BFA - New Media/Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
BFA - New Media/Bachelor of Education (Art Education)
BFA - New Media/Bachelor of Business Administration (General Management)
Bachelor of Music
Combined Degrees
BMus (Music)/Bachelor of Education (Music Education) 1
Bachelor of Arts
BA (Art)
BA (Art History & Museum Studies)
BA (Dramatic Arts)
BA (Music)2
Bachelor of Arts & Science
BASc (Art/chosen Science major)
BASc (Dramatic Arts/chosen Science major)
BASc (Music/chosen Science major)2
Combined degrees
BA (Art)/Bachelor of Education (Art Education)
BA (Art)/Bachelor of Business Administration
BA (Dramatic Arts)/Bachelor of Education (Drama Education)
BA (Dramatic Arts)/Bachelor of Business Administration
BA (Music)/Bachelor of Education (Music Education)2
BA (Music)/Bachelor of Business Administration2
Art
Look deeply. Learn from the past. Be inspired to make an impact.
Work with active artists and a world-class art collection as you pursue your professional and creative goals in a collaborative environment.
Explore diverse studio practices like drawing, sculpting, painting, photography, media arts and more, or build critical skills through studies in art history and Indigeneity.
We offer a variety of unique and exciting programs in Art at ULethbridge, including:
“ULethbridge provides an environment where students have the opportunity to benefit from small class sizes and a greater focus on their individual needs and goals. The woodshop, bronze, and printmaking facilities were especially enticing.”
Sidney Frenette-Ling BFA - Art ’25
• Art Studio
• Art History & Museum Studies
• Indigenous Art (Art Studio or Art History/Museum Studies)
Art Studio
Sketch out your future.
This conceptually-oriented Bachelor of Fine Arts program means you can draw from many areas of study to create art.
• Develop your own artistic direction through an intensive studio experience exploring technical, aesthetic and theoretical studies.
• Build your practice in your oncampus studio space, where you have the freedom to experiment.
This is your real canvas.
You’ll learn more than just how to make art. Through our program, you can learn to communicate effectively, solve problems and think critically for creative solutions.
Key skills gained
• Visual storytelling
• Collaboration & teamwork
• Creative thinking & writing
Explore careers in
• Art & cultural institutions
• Arts education
• Media & Photography
Art History & Museum Studies
Dig into history. Gain new perspectives. Put it all together.
Join an innovative Bachelor of Arts program that combines critical studies in art history and theory with hands-on museum and gallery experience.
• Our Art History & Museum Studies internship program gives you real-world experience in cultural fields.
• Access one of the largest art collections in Canada and apply your knowledge in supportive environments.
The art of knowing everything.
Shape how the world sees art, history and cultural preservation. You’ll become a critical thinker, storyteller and problem solver who can apply these skills in a wide variety of settings.
Key skills gained
• Visual literacy
• Research & writing
• Curation & collections management
Explore careers in
• Galleries & public institutions
• Educational sectors
• Cultural media fields
Indigenous Art
Connect with Iniskim. Learn about the meaning behind the word.
Our Bachelor of Fine Arts - Indigenous Art program deepens your studies in Art through Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being.
We offer two majors in our Indigenous Art degree:
• The Indigenous Art (Art Studio) program allows you to study Indigeneity, sovereignty and cultural resurgence in contemporary art and apply it in your own practice.
• The Indigenous Art (Art History/ Museum Studies) program prepares you for success in the complex and evolving fields of Indigenous art history and contemporary curatorial and museum practices.
Honour the past. Shape the future.
Gain hands-on experience through landbased learning, research, and knowledgesharing with Indigenous Elders and community members. Preserve culture and tell stories that matter through a creative lens.
Key skills gained
• Critical thinking grounded in decolonization & representation
• Ethics, reciprocity & community engagement
• Land-based practice & cultural protocols
Explore careers in
• Cultural policy
• Advocacy & social justice programs
• Community arts institutions
New Media
Get down to the pixel level.
Explore the intersection of art, design and technology in a hands-on program that prepares you for creative careers and leadership in a rapidly evolving digital world.
From day one, you’ll dive into collaborative and self-directed creative projects while building a strong foundation in interactive, narrative, spatial and networked media.
Our innovative program blends studio practice with professional development and research-creation, helping you build impactful digital work while exploring the cultural, ethical and environmental issues shaping the world today.
• Build skills in areas that excite you — digital storytelling, video, sound, coding, game design, UX, and more.
• Learn through studio-based courses that blend experimentation, collaboration and critical inquiry with access to cutting-edge equipment and labs.
Cultivate. Critique.
Create for a complex future.
Emerge with a robust portfolio, practical experience and the critical skills needed to thrive across creative industries, education sectors and tech spaces while supporting community-engaged practices.
Key skills gained
• Audio-visual storytelling
• Research-creation & critical media literacy
• Socially engaged, ethical digital practices
Explore careers in
• Creative & digital production
• Media technologies
• Cultural work & entrepreneurship
“New Media hooked me from the start. I was looking for a program that allowed me to learn about digital media, but I also knew I wanted to go somewhere I could mix in art. After learning about all the different mediums explored in the New Media program, I was all in.”
Gesiah Leyva Gonzalez BFA - New Media Student
How to Apply
Your
Apply today and join a community that celebrates your perspective and helps you grow.
General University application requirements
• Canadian high school applicants need a combined average of 65% in five Grade 12 courses, including one approved English language arts course.
• Transfer applicants need a minimum 2.0 GPA.
• Post-diploma applicants need a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Fall deadline*
• Apply by June 30
* For the Bachelor of Music (Music), application deadline is June 15.
Winter deadline*
• Apply by November 1
* Winter deadline is only for Bachelor of Fine Arts - Multidisciplinary, Bachelor of Arts (excluding the Art History & Museum Studies major), and Bachelor of Arts & Science.
No portfolio? No problem.
Hone your talent here on campus. Our Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees (Art, Dramatic Arts, Multidisciplinary, New Media) and our Digital Audio Arts major for the Bachelor of Music do not require a portfolio for admission.
Remember to apply for awards and scholarships!
Scholarships at ULethbridge are easier to access than you might think.
With one application, you can be considered for most of our awards, including scholarships based on leadership, community involvement, your program area, plus other unique qualities.
Apply to ULethbridge go.uleth.ca/apply
Music
Harmonize your talent with your goals.
Synthesize study of performance, composition, music technology, recording engineering or music education.
Our music programs are designed to meet your specific needs and help you create connections between theory and practice.
Two distinct majors in Music allow you explore studio learning, or audio creation and engineering:
• Digital Audio Arts
• Music (Audition required, see page 19)
“My degree has allowed me to enter an industry where I’m expected to deal with different areas such as audio, lighting, music and stage carpentry. My studies gave me the knowledge to tackle these areas while teaching me that it’s important to keep learning and to be open minded about what you already know.”
Juan Añez BMus ’23
Digital Audio Arts
Create and study the future of sound with a comprehensive audio technology experience that connects your interests in music and technical creativity.
Discover real-world training opportunities in professional settings through our unique program.
• Record and mix in our professional studios for stereo, binaural and surround sound.
• Develop professional connections and build your skills for work in competitive fields.
• Participate in creative performances and showcases.
Mix. Master. Make it.
As the only degree program of its kind in Western Canada, Digital Audio Arts blends performance, composition and theory with leading-edge technology.
Key skills gained
• Studio & live sound production
• Communication & problem solving
• Research & innovation
Explore careers in
• Sound production & audio engineering
• Live sound creation
• Technology & creative fields
Music
as a singer or instrumentalist, with 24-hour access to individual practice studios and composition labs.
• Build skills in areas that interest you the most — performance, history, theory, sound design or composition.
• Take part in a variety of unique performing ensembles, our composer-in-residence program and complete courses in music theory, aural skills, musical studies, and literature.
Key skills gained
• Instrumental & vocal technique
• Music theory, composition & arranging
• Critical listening & effective communication
Explore careers in
• Performance & composition
• Music education
• Arts leadership and administration
Music Auditions
An audition is required for admission for all Bachelor of Music (Music) students, including the combined degree with Education.
For the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts & Science in Music, an audition is not required for admission but is required to take music studio courses.
You can choose an in-person audition or an online audition.
Reach out to our Studio Coordinator at music@uleth.ca for more info.
Sign Up
go.uleth.ca/ studio-audition
Audition
Required
BMus (Music) BMus (Music)/BEd BA (Music)/BEd
No
Audition
Required (unless taking music studio courses)
BA (Music)/BBA BA (Music) BASc (Music/chosen Science major)
Drama
On stage. Behind the scenes. We have a place for you.
Through our rigorous and hands-on programs, you develop strong skills in creativity and collaboration while developing discipline and confidence.
Courses in theatre history and theory provide a comprehensive understanding of drama’s essential role in the past, present and future of society.
With three comprehensive majors in Dramatic Arts, you can build a program aligned with your interests across a range of skills and activities.
Take part in a dynamic season of theatre, including our signature Mainstage productions and the student-run TheatreXtra series, as well as workshops, play readings and other special events.
Drama Majors
Dramatic Arts
This flexible major gives you the opportunity to learn multiple facets of the theatrical world, including performance, tech and design, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting and more.
Performance
Explore multiple areas of performance, including acting, directing, playwriting, and approaches to theatrical creation.
Discover a variety of performance techniques in voice and movement, as well as theatre for young audiences, improvisation, and physical theatre.
Technical/Design
Focus on design and technical production in all aspects of technical theatre and follow the creative process from conception to wrap-up.
Gain a range of skills in scenery, lighting, sound, costuming, stage management, and safety, with volunteer and paid positions in our Costume Shop and Scene and Props Shop.
Recent theatre productions
AI, Avatars & Aliens: A Speculative Cabaret! directed by Mia van Leeuwen and Julia Wasilewski (2025), pictured left below.
Jesus Christ Superstar, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, directed by Doug MacArthur (2024).
Yisstsiiyii (Listen), written by Caleigh Crow, Neil Fleming and Marshall Vielle with contributions from the Drama 3850: Sharing Stories – Indigenous Theatre Creation with Making Treaty 7 class; directed by Marshall Vielle and Caleigh Crow (2023), pictured middle-right below.
More
than just acting.
apply creative thinking in your chosen field.
“Theatre has become such an important part of my life, and I want to share my passion with others. ULethbridge has an amazing drama program, where I felt my acting talent would fourish. Being in the Faculty of Fine Arts is a great way to build connections with arts communities.”
Naima Young Pine BFA - Dramatic Arts/ Bachelor of Education Student
Key skills gained
• Project & time management
• Effective communication & teamwork
• Active listening & critical thinking
Explore careers in
• Design for theatre and film
• Acting & directing
• Drama education
Multidisciplinary
Curate your career.
This program is built for creatives who enjoy thinking outside the box. You can develop your own degree program from all areas of Fine Arts.
Choose your first concentration from one area of Fine Arts (Art, Drama, Music, or New Media), then choose a second and third concentration from the other three.
• Customize your education around technical, practical and academic focuses.
• Participate in a full range of experiences in the fine arts, from performances and exhibitions to concerts and internships.
Create without limits.
Combine multiple creative practices and gain in-demand skill sets with a customized education.
Key skills gained
• Cross-medium creativity
• Working independently & collaboratively
• Critical thinking & conceptual development
Explore careers in
• Digital & graphic media design
• Arts management
• Musical theatre
Scholarships. Simplifed.
Your talent, dedication and potential deserve to be recognized and rewarded.
Entrance Scholarships
Grade 11 Merit Award
Apply in Grade 11 and earn up to $800 based on your grades in English 20-1, three academic courses and a fifth distinct course.
Board of Governors’ Admission Scholarship
Apply for admission by December 15 with an admission average of 80% or higher, and you’ll automatically be considered for a $1,000 award.
High School Awards
Earn up to $6,000 based on academic achievement, financial need, leadership and volunteer experience, artistic ability, reference letters and essays.
Abbondànza Undergraduate Entrance Award
Get $2,000 if you demonstrate exceptional artistic and academic talent.
Fine Arts Applied Awards
In addition to ULethbridge entrance scholarships, the Faculty of Fine Arts offers more than 65 scholarships and awards to help you fund your studies.
• Intermezzo Classical Voice Award ($2,000)
• Joyce & Ron Sakamoto Prize for Research & Development in DAA ($5,000)
• Play Right Prize (up to $1,500)
• Spirit Prize ($2,500)
• Roloff Beny Foundation Photographic Award in Fine Arts (up to $5,000)
• Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies Museum Studies Internship (up to $2,000)
Get paid to enhance your degree go.uleth.ca/ fine-arts-awards
Learn it. Apply it. Get paid for it.
You’re the artist, your degree is your stage. Where will your education take you?
Our team in Career Bridge is your key for future success, helping you build the skills, expertise and confidence to thrive at ULethbridge and beyond.
With access to co-operative education opportunities, applied studies, career services, and experiential and work-integrated learning, we bridge the gap between your education and your future.
We’ll help you:
• Gain hands-on experience in a variety of fields
• Build a resume that stands out
• Connect with employers and mentors
• Discover what drives you
You’ll have access to our career services even after you graduate!
Curious about what’s possible? We’ll help you find out and get there.
Spaces, Places & Where
inspiration meets innovation. All you need to bring is your imagination.
Our world-class studios, labs and creative facilities are designed to bring your boldest ideas to life.
Whether you’re casting a sculpture, writing a play, recording an album or experimenting with the latest technology, you’ll have access to professional-grade tools and technology, and dedicated creative spaces that support your learning and fuel your artistic growth.
• Studio Art Facilities: create boldly in your medium
• Centre for Indigenous Arts Research & Technology: building Indigenous sovereignty through technological expression
• Costume Shop and Scene and Prop Shop: construct, sew and set the stage
• Cove Studio: build your reality in our green screen room
• David Spinks Theatre: multi-use black-box theatre and classroom space
• Game Research Lab: play, critique and create
• Studio One: professional audio engineering suite and recording studio
• University Recital Hall: acoustically designed for your perfect note
• University Theatre: fully equipped performance space
• University of Lethbridge Art Gallery: caring for our art collection and promoting artistic culture
• University of Lethbridge Music Conservatory at Casa: home to music education and community programming …and more!
& Technology
Learning IRL
At ULethbridge, we don’t stay in our lane — we create new ones.
Liberal education is at the heart of what we do. It’s about thinking across disciplines, asking better questions and building the skills to lead as a creative, informed and engaged global citizen fluent in many perspectives.
In the Faculty of Fine Arts, this philosophy fuels everything from our collaborative classrooms to boundary-pushing projects that span science, technology and the arts.
Imagine drama students help design neuroscience experiments. Or biology students learn to sketch plants like artists. Here, your education isn’t limited to one path. It’s a launchpad for discovering unexpected connections.
This may be your first rodeo — but it’s not ours.
We’re here for you, every step of the way.
Stay in touch with the Faculty of Fine Arts as you begin your academic and creative journey.
Fine Arts Advising is your go-to team for navigating university life. Our academic advisors are here to help you explore, switch gears and maybe even surprise yourself.
Whether you’re chasing a new passion or questioning your major (again), we’re here for all of it.
Drop by W660 in the University Centre for the Arts or reach out at finearts.advising@uleth.ca.
Vibe Fest
See what we’re up to in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Here, creativity isn’t hidden behind closed doors, it’s on full display.
Step inside the University Centre for Arts during our annual Vibe Fest, and you’ll discover what it means to be part of a thriving creative community.
Vibe Fest is a playful, immersive celebration that showcases creativity, talent and opportunity within the Faculty of Fine Arts, while also showing off some of our amazing labs, spaces and technologies.
This festival showcases works from Fine Arts students, alumni, faculty and staff, and features live music and exhibitions, behind-the-scenes tours and interactive performances.
Vibe Fest highlights the full scope of emerging creative practice in southern Alberta and spotlights our contributions to the wider arts communities. We build community support and advocacy for arts education while creating meaningful connections between students, alumni, arts organizations and patrons.
We’re a central part of the arts ecosystem in southern Alberta. Come experience it frsthand at Vibe Fest.
