The FINA Gallery, in the foyer of the Creative and Critical Studies Building, hosts exhibitions throughout the year—some by visiting arts, some by faculty members, and many by BFA and MFA students.
The Fine Arts studios are used as classroom as well as working spaces for students taking classes in visual arts, media studies and theatre. See the virtual studio tour below as well as images and information about each of our studio and lab spaces.
The darkroom (CCS 229) is an ideal space for processing black and white resin-coated or fibre-based prints, as well as working with pinhole photography and alternative processes such as cyanotype.
A variety of enlargers allow students to make prints from 35mm, medium format, and large format negatives. Students come together under the amber glow of the safelight in this traditional darkroom environment. The darkroom is a social space where students can share ideas as they develop.
CCS 221 and 222 are diverse drawing spaces with white exhibition walls and a variety of different drawing furniture and equipment. The studios are often arranged to accommodate live models or still-life objects and structures.
Students taking Visual Arts courses have 24 hour access to these studios to work on class projects throughout the year.
This multi use room (CCS 227) is available to students and faculty to use for video work, photography shoots, talks, demonstrations, or other art related needs. Lights, interchangeable paper back drops (black, white and blue backdrops), and a green screen for video keying are part of the space. The green room can be reserved through the creative studies booking system.
(note, you must be a student in an FCCS class where the use of this studio is needed for a class project)
There are two computer labs (CCS 141 and SCI 128) that are used as a teaching space and works space for students. The computers (in both CCS 141 and SCI 128) and flatbed scanners in (CCS 141) are also available for students to use outside of class time to work on projects. The computers have Adobe, Final Cut and Microsoft software.
The Media Maker Space (CCS 122) supports computational arts, and interactive media courses. This studio is used for teaching our senior courses in the Bachelor of Media Studies and is available for drop-in studio time for our students working across the creative technologies in media studies or visual arts classes. Equipped with a growing complement of new technologies this flexible media space enables students access to virtual reality technologies, high end computer gaming system, soldering stations, workbenches, full wall projection, and temporary project storage. 3D printing and laser cutting is also available nearby.
(Contact one of the technicians to learn more about 3D and laser cutting)
The 1800 sqft metal shop also doubles as a sculpture studio and is well equipped with a combination of traditional and CNC machinery. This includes a plasma cutter, oxy-acetylene equipment, MIG and TIG welders, a CNC mill, laser cutter and 3D printer. This flexible working space provides opportunities to work in a variety of materials and also houses a gallery space for critical evaluations of student work. The shop is open weekdays from 9am to 3:45pm and students are required to work with a buddy when using the power tools and welding equipment. The metal shop offers a dynamic working environment and provides complimentary facilities to the wood shop that is situated across the corridor.
The painting studios (223 and 224) are a combined 2400 sqft and come fully equipped with easels, tables, rolling carts and chemical storage. These large spaces with white exhibition walls and upright storage racks are often bustling with diverse student painters who are able custom build their painting supports in the CCS Wood Shop.
Students taking Visual Arts courses have 24 hour access to these studios to work on class projects throughout the year.
CCS 144 is the home studio for Theatre courses, and is available 24/7 outside of scheduled class times. It is a large open space with a sprung dance floor and is equipped with a digital projector and sound system. The University Theatre (ADM 026) is a 200 seat theatre complete with state of the art digital lighting and sound equipment. Students registered in Theatre courses have 24/7 access to the theatre outside of scheduled class times for class projects.
The printmaking studio (CCS 127) is very versatile. We teach a variety of print media – everything from etching to stone lithography, relief printing (linocut, woodcut, letter press and monotype printing) and a unique form of highly detailed screen printing. We stress traditional printmaking methods but we also work with the most up-to-date photographic applications as well. Because of the specific equipment needs of most printmaking media the 24–hour, seven days a week access makes the printmaking studio a vibrant and active place to work.
This 1300 sqft studio houses several tables, benches and shelving for an ample amount of workspace and storage. CCS 123 is used by students in their 3-Dimensional Art Practices class, where 3-D sculptures are created using a variety of materials such as plaster, wood, metal, paper or found objects.
The 4th year studios are located on the 2nd floor of the CCS building and are divided into individual studio spaces where BFA Visual Arts students in their final year of study have a dedicated space to work on self-directed projects.
The Wood Shop (CCS 124) is fully equipped with all of your standard woodworking tools and machinery. After completing the mandatory safety training (VISA 090), Creative Studies students have access to all of the equipment – from traditional tools such as hand planes and carving gouges to larger equipment like table saws, mitre saws, band saws and a thickness planer. The shop is open weekdays from 9am to 4:15 pm and students are required to work with a buddy when using the power tools. With plenty of work benches and space, our shop is often full of energetic art-makers building anything from canvas stretchers to installation sculptures.
MFA studios, are housed in the new UBC Innovation Precinct 1. The space includes studio space, communal desk space, conference rooms, lounge, kitchenette and showers. Each MFA VISA and IS student shares a 25m2 space with another student, MFA CRWR students have shared desk space in the communal area shared with the School of Engineering graduate students.
Shared studio space for VISA and IS students
Shared desk space for CRWR students
IP1 is a 5-minute drive, 16-minute walk, or 10-minute ride from campus on the #23 bus. Please see this map.
IP1 Building, 1540 Innovation Drive
The Department of Creative Studies offers on site digital printing services to accommodate student project needs, providing creative, cost effective ways to print. The printing services are conveniently located in what is known as the Spark Lab, in CCS 151.
This service provides quality, full colour digital printing ideal for wide format printing (up to 44” wide). There are a variety of paper options to choose from.
This service provides quality, full colour digital printing ideal for wide format printing (up to 44” wide). There are a variety of paper options to choose from.
Printing is for project course work and student exhibition use only. Printing for selling purposes is not permitted.
The services are delivered by the media technician during posted hours.
For winter 2023 they are as follows:
Tuesday 9-12 and 1-3pm
Wednesday 9-12 and 1-2pm
Friday 9-12
The turnaround time for prints is usually 2-3 days.
Students that would like to have files printed need to go to CCS 151 (The Spark Lab) in person during the available times or contact Sam at sam.neal@ubc.ca
Printing can be paid online or in cash to Sam Neal (invoice must be presented)
Students and faculty can borrow equipment (Gearspace Bookings) for their projects or get technical assistance through the Asper Centre for Artists Video. Various types of cameras (video, digital, film), lights, audio equipment including microphones, speakers, sound systems, recording devices, and other technology is available here.
Equipment needs to be reserved online through the gearspace system using a gearspace account. Sign up for an account here.
Equipment loans are meant to support research, course projects and instructional activities within the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
This space is ideally located between the Green Room (CCS 227) and the Dark Room and the hours are as follows:
Monday – Friday:
Equipment pick-up is from 1pm – 4pm.
Equipment returns are from 8:30am-12pm.
A complete list of equipment available for loan can be viewed on the Gearspace website if you have registered for a gearspace account.
Note: certain equipment such as lighting and camera gear are only available to students once they have completed a certain level of course and training.
If you have any questions regarding equipment, you are welcome to contact Sam Neal.
Request a Gearspace Booking account
Studio space is open to all students enrolled in a VISA, MDST or THTRE courses to use outside of class time, however the Greenroom (CCS 227) and the Performance Studio (CCS 144) must be booked to use outside of class time using the Gearspace Booking System.
If you require technical assistance in a workshop, lab or gallery, please schedule an appointment well in advance, via e-mail with the relevant technician.
For more information about the Asper Centre for Artists Video, equipment, or the Greenroom and Performance studio, contact sam.neal@ubc.ca.
(note, you must be a student in an FCCS class where the use of equipment is needed for your class project)
The Department of Creative Studies offers the purchase of some art materials for specific courses. You must contact your instructor or technician for availability and pricing of materials before purchasing.
Please check with your instructor or technician for pricing information.
Payment for these items can be made online, or in cash to the admin assistant in CCS 152 (invoice must be presented).
We have two Canadian Foundation for Innovation funded research Centres in the Faculty along with two research Labs with opportunities for students to work with faculty and fellow students on a variety of research projects.
The AMP Lab houses projects that engage in the work of the humanities–adding value to cultural artifacts through interpretation and analysis–in a digital context. Broadly, all AMP Lab projects investigate code as a sustainable medium for representing cultural history. The stakes are high, as the development of sustainable, robust humanist data shapes what both scholars and the general public can know about digitized cultural history.
Visit: amplab.ok.ubc.ca
The Centre for Culture and Technology (CCT) was established in 2011 by FCCS professors Aleksandra Dulic and Stephen Foster to promote research that brings together art and science to develop a critical awareness of the dynamic relationship between culture and technology. As a laboratory engaged in innovative research, the CCT aims to develop content, artwork and services, support innovation processes, expand new knowledge transmission strategies for cultural expression, and communicate cultural knowledge to audiences across a range of age groups and cultures.
Visit: cct.ok.ubc.ca
The Research Studio for Spaces and Things (RSST) is an open platform for research and creation in the field of visual arts. The Studio is a transdisciplinary environment dedicated to the production and the presentation in 2D arts (drawing, painting, photography), 3D arts (installation, sculpture, design, architecture) and time-based practices (audio, video, performance). It will gather practitioners working across genres, disciplines and techniques. Contact: samuel.roy-bois@ubc.ca.