College Diploma - Artisan Entrepreneurship

This program is structured on the knowledge and appreciation of traditional Indigenous art forms. The teaching method follows a traditional Indigenous style, emphasizing verbal and visual guidance in a practical learning setting.

The Artisan Entrepreneur Diploma is a two-year program that focuses on developing the skills and knowledge to be a self-employed artist. In the first year of the program, students will complete the Aboriginal Art Certificate, which covers core Indigenous art forms and introductory-level study in various other fine arts and craft media.

Following the Aboriginal Arts Certificate program, students will continue to study First Nations, Metis and Inuit traditional and contemporary art forms in advanced courses in painting and drawing, hide tanning, carving, sewing, footwear, beadwork, and decorative arts while identifying an area of focus or interest. The program includes studio courses that provides students with the opportunity for directed study, under the supervision of instructors, in an identified area of interest and skill such as drawing and painting, printmaking, carving, digital media, and other media.

During this year students will also study and learn entrepreneurial skills in each Aboriginal art course by learning pricing and quality standards of products. Students will learn marketing through courses such as Introduction to Marketing Arts & Crafts and Creating an Online Business. In these courses, students will develop their own website as well as learn other important marketing skills and business knowledge such as business networking skills and potential business resources.

Entry into the Artisan Entrepreneurship program (second year) will include a portfolio submission developed in the Aboriginal Art Certificate.