Media Studies instructor Miles Thorogood demonstrates virtual reality development.
A local West Kelowna winery has contributed $8,000 to the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies for a new award for students.
The donation from Grizzli Winery will allow the (FCCS) to present new awards this academic year to students majoring in fine arts or media studies who display great promise in graphic design and visual communication. These represent the first awards created in FCCS as part of UBC President Santa Ono’s Blue & Gold Campaign for Students, launched last fall, which aims to raise $100 million across both UBC campuses over three years to give promising students access to a life-changing education.
Grizzli Winery is relatively new to the Okanagan, and Edwin Chu says the company is eager to support the arts and culture of this region. The idea of supporting the talented, emerging student-artists of FCCS strikes them as an ideal way of accomplishing that.
Edwin Chu, General Manager of Grizzli Winery
“We are very pleased to offer the Grizzli Winery Awards in Fine Arts Excellence, which aims to honour student creativity. As a supporter of the Okanagan art and cultural community, Grizzli Winery is looking forward to providing this opportunity to foster the creative education of UBCO students,” says Edwin Chu, General Manager of Grizzli Winery.
The fine arts or media studies programs focus on creativity, innovation, and critical reflection. Benefitting from cutting-edge facilities, students learn the techniques of traditional and digital-studio arts, while being given ample studio space and time to explore fully their own projects and ideas, says Bryce Traister, dean of FCCS.
“Grizzli has, in a few short years, established itself as an arts-engaged winery whose support of creativity and community-focussed artistic work closely aligns with our own interest in supporting our students’ artistic endeavours and recognizing their artistic achievements,” adds Traister. “We are delighted to be working with this new community partner.”
The Blue & Gold Campaign for Students supports a range of student awards, including scholarships, bursaries, fellowships and experiential-learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, targeting students in need, students from under-represented communities, and leadership-based awards.
“Awards allow students the much-needed time to focus on their creative and scholarly projects,” says Stephen Foster, head of creative studies. “They are also a wonderful way for the university and the community to recognize student achievement. This helps to create an environment that inspires excellence.”
Grizzli Winery is located on West Kelowna’s Wine Trail. The 23-acre Grizzli estate features one of Canada’s largest tasting rooms, nine acres of vines, a restaurant and a picnic area set against the backdrop of Mt. Boucherie and the surrounding valley views.