Welcome Future Student!

Welcome to the School of Fine Art & Music (SOFAM) at the University of Guelph. Art is not just something you learn about, it’s something that you do, whether as a practitioner, scholar, critic, teacher or in a host of other jobs to which studying art might lead. Our BA programs are renowned for their excellence and for the success of their graduates. The result is that SOFAM graduates are working as artists, musicians, art historians, art and music teachers, gallery administrators, curatorial assistants, and are making their mark in numerous other creative practices and cultural industries.

We invite you to explore our programs, and I encourage you to contact me to learn more or to ask questions. I will gladly connect you with faculty or current students.

Kimberly Francis, Director, School of Fine Art and Music
kfranc02@uoguelph.ca

Students choose the School of Fine Art and Music for:

Access to some of Canada's leading experts and facilities. Our faculty are recognized internationally as artists, performers, and researchers. Programs within the SOFAM enjoy an outstanding national reputation.
Supportive environment. Many courses are limited to 20 students, ensuring our passionate faculty can provide feedback and mentorship throughout your studies. Located at the heart of the University's campus, our students develop strong connections with the local art communities and student groups.
Flexible studies. As a Bachelor of Arts program students become confident artists and have the opportunity to combine their studies with over 50 Minors, including Psychology, French, Marketing, and English.
Unique and independent opportunities - many students take on experiential learning courses, that allow them to work with local organizations including artists, galleries, and composers for credit; developing their skills and professional networks.

Our Majors

Art History

Learn from theSOFAM Print Study Collection, home to over 1,600 works of art including Goya, Rembrandt, and Picasso. Upper-year students also can undertake paid research assistantships under the supervision of individual faculty.
Study at the Art Gallery of Guelph, attend innovative exhibitions of works by artists from around the world, engage with the permanent collection and explore the largest sculpture park at a public gallery in Canada.
Travel to study first-hand to some of the world’s most renowned works of art; students have recently taken field trips to Toronto, New York, Los Angeles/Las Vegas and Italy.
Upper year students can take on experiential learning placements with art galleries, museums, arts organizations, art archives and/or complete independent research on a topic of your choosing.

Music

Study music history, theory, ethnomusicology, composition, pedagogy, jazz, and improvisation, popular music, digital music, and performance.
Perform in our newly renovated performing arts wing with our award-winning choirs or ensembles.
Receive 1-1 music instruction in classical, jazz and contemporary forms of performance including voice, and a full range of instrumentation.
Auditions are not required for admission, but entry into specific performance courses will require the successful completion of an audition.

Studio Art

Some of Canada's largest studio spaces, including Sculpture, Digital Media, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, and Experimental Studio facilities.
Explore new ways of creating with our Interdisciplinary Design Lab.
Unique curricular and co-curricular opportunities including specialized studio, showing publicly in the Zavitz Gallery of off-campus at the Boarding House Gallery, the Juried Art Show, independent placements, international opportunities, and our Emerging Artist Mentorship Project.
Admission to Studio Art does not require a portfolio. SOFAM recognizes students have varied prior educational experiences. Some students come from highly sophisticated art programs, others have not been provided with the same opportunity.
Discover our current students' work through our Instagram page or our digital exhibitions.

Your Experience

The University of Guelph is part of a thriving arts community, where students have opportunities to extend their artistic practice beyond the classroom:

Join our student communities in the Fine Arts Network or the Music Student Association
New performance spaces
Practice your skills through independent placements(work experience for course credit) and other experiential learning courses. Students in the past worked for practicing artists, and galleries regionally.
Take the next step in your career through the Guelph Arts Mentorship Program or the Guelph Arts Apprenticeship Program.

Our Graduates

	Christine Meagher (BA SART 2010) was recently appointed Marketing Manager for Lalique in New York City. After working for BCBG Max Azria in Toronto, Christine continued her career in the fashion industry with BTF in Paris, before joining Gucci in New York for three years.
	Lesley Bouza Soprano (BA Music 2006) performs jazz, pop, musical theatre, and classical genres. Lesley has appeared as a soloist with The Toronto Symphony, Les Violon du Roy, The Elora Singers, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Winnipeg Symphony, and the Calgary Philharmonic. In addition, Lesley is an accredited music therapist.
	Xan Hawes (BA SART 2008) has been an intern architect and designer with LGA Partners since 2016, having previously worked for TEAL in Nova Scotia and Studio North in Calgary. Xan continues to work on design strategies for improving public space.
	Carolyn Hickey (BA Art History 2015, MA AHVC 2018) is the new Head of Collections at the Woodstock Art Gallery. Carolyn was a Research Assistant at the Bachinski/Chu Print Study Collection at the University of Guelph and has also worked at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie and the Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto.
	Alex Chen (BA Music minor 2015) is a faculty member at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Among many projects, Alex has been involved as a pianist and coach with the Accademia Europea dell’Opera (an experience funded by a Create and Explore Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts), the Victoria Conservatory’s Collegium program, and the Western University Opera Workshop. These collaborations have culminated in performances of Le nozze di Figaro, Serse, and Die Zauberflöte.
	Stephanie Deumer (BA SART 2011) is an artist living and working in New York City. Her work is comprised of video, sculpture and photography. She has just completed her participation in the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Independent Study Studio Program. Her work has been widely exhibited across Canada and the US, as well as in the UK and Ecuador.