Sled Island. The Glenbow Museum. Rideau Hall. Calgary's High Performance Rodeo. Encana. These are but a few of the partners with whom we work to create change and inspire new creative thought. The partnerships built in our community make it possible for our faculty and students to explore new projects here, and around the world.
ACAD and its corporate, government and nonprofit partners have discovered the extraordinary benefits of collaborative research projects with ACAD students and faculty – on campus and throughout our community. These partnerships challenge artists and designers to focus on coming up with new ideas and fresh approaches to a wide array of business, civic and societal needs, and offer students the opportunity to engage their work in the wider world of creative innovation.
As part of our students' studio education, ACAD collaborates with leading companies and community groups on a wide range of collaborative projects. Through custom-designed assignments and commissioned work, our students gain real-world, professional experience—and our partners benefit from new perspective and fresh ideas.
- Canadian Reel Artists Film Festival
- Encana Emerging Artist Project
- Design Without Borders
- Sol-Abode - Canadian Solar House Championship
- Truck Gallery
- Alberta C.O.P.S
- Sled Island
As part of ACAD's commitment to fostering a high level of critical discourse within our studio spaces, ACAD has created the positions of Critic in Residence, and Curator in Residence, beginning in 2010. This year, we are pleased to welcome Nancy Tousley, nationally recognized art critic and theorist as Critic In Residence, and Josh McNorton, curator of the Sled Island Music Festival as our Curator in Residence at the College.
As Critic in Residence at ACAD, Governor General Award winner Nancy Tousley works daily with students and faculty and with ACAD’s two public gallery spaces to raise the level of critical discourse at ACAD. Nancy Tousley’s practice has included writing about art and architecture for a major daily newspaper, art magazines and exhibition catalogues, and she will be joined ACAD in her new position of Critic in Residence as of November 1, 2010.
As Curator in Residence, Josh McNorton will be conducting a series of lectures and classroom visits with students, opening the door to discussions surrounding the role of design, performance and sound in the world of the curator. Josh McNorton will also be facilitating student involvement in the 2011 Sled Island Festival. Josh McNorton joined ACAD on March 1, 2011, bringing with him a wealth of experience including event and talent management, sound and visual design, and festival marketing.
The Alberta College of Art + Design is pleased to partner with the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival to present Sled Island Art, a series of visual-art exhibitions, performances and events featuring ACAD students and alumni at venues throughout this annual week-long music festival. Each June, we invite you to join ACAD students, faculty and alumni for an exciting series of opening receptions, installations, panel discussions and art performances at the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival as we celebrate the innovative power of art and music right here in Calgary.
ACAD is proud to welcome some of the most exciting and innovative minds in the international art + design community to share their practice, and to discuss their work with our College community. Take a look at the list of incredible talent that has visited ACAD, and the inspiring voices our students have collaborated with over the years.
ACAD is in constant collaboration with the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN); a partnership of 21 post-secondary institutions in Alberta, working together to support and enhance rural development. ARDN is committed to ensuring rural communities are a place to grow, a place to seek new opportunities, and a place to build futures.