MLA, David Coon, visits the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design

Here is a photo of David being shown the campus by Allison Green

Here David is being shown the campus by Allison Green

On Monday March 13, 2017, David Coon, MLA for Fredericton South and Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick had the opportunity to tour the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD), an artist hive established in 1938 focusing entirely on fine crafts and applied design. The campus is located in Fredericton’s downtown core inside the historic Barracks building.

Students in their first year typically do a foundation year. This covers the basics of ceramics, photography, drawing, painting, safety in the studio, and design. Later in the program, students have the option to jump into their specific area of study and NBCCD offers many options.

NBCCD Students have an option to do a fourth year after earning their diploma. This year focuses on career building.

“A lot of people, artists, can’t understand what a career looks like in this field.” Allison Green, a graduate of NBCCD and now an admissions counselor, remarks, “We really help students with that.”

Here is a stunning collaborative piece by Staphan Roberge and Cyril Sacobie, found in the Aboriginal Arts Studio

by Staphan Roberge and Cyril Sacobie

It is important in such a competitive field to have that level of mentorship and support by NBCCD Professors and Alumni. Many students have their work displayed in art galleries around Fredericton and gather networking connections during their time at the school.

There are a few programs unique to NBCCD. The Aboriginal Visual Arts program is particularly special to New Brunswick with its focus solely on traditional Atlantic Canada. The program teaches skills developed in the traditional crafts and works of the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Passamaquoddy peoples. As part of the curriculum students learn about Aboriginal history in Atlantic Canada while working with Aboriginal artists. To the right is pictured a stunning collaborative piece by Staphan Roberge and Cyril Sacobie, found in the Aboriginal Arts Studio.

The Digital Media program at NBCCD is growing with its recent addition of Virtual Reality (VR) to the curriculum. Students have the choice to study 3D Animation/Virtual Reality, Web and Mobile Application Development, and Audio/Video Production.

Here David is trying Virtual Reality.

Here David is trying Virtual Reality.

NBCCD is a great institution with an important role in educating generations of artists to tell the stories of New Brunswick. If you get a chance to swing by the campus, take a walk through the historic Barracks building and examine for yourself some of the student work that adorns the halls.