April Newsletter
Newsletter
Art and Design Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is an excellent way to build experience, make industry connections, and make a positive impact in the community. Non-profits of all kinds are often in need of volunteers with graphic design, web design, and even animation skills. These volunteers can contribute to a great cause by creating newsletters, advertising, invitations, websites and viral videos, among other things. Your skills in these areas can make a big impact for a charity, and you’ll also get a chance to build your portfolio.
Students with fashion design and marketing and merchandizing skills have a lot to offer non-profits, as well. Fashion show fundraisers, charity thrift shops who need help with window displays, and fashion-based arts organizations can all use your eye for great style.
Interior design students can also put their skills to work for a good cause. Non-profits often need help planning how to layout very limited office space (on an equally limited budget). Organizations throwing fundraising galas or other large events may need help with décor and space planning.
Check out the Places to Volunteer page for a list of organizations in Vancouver that could use your help. Instructors and other campus staff are also a great resource to learn about upcoming opportunities.
Links of the Month
Facebook: facebook.com
VCAD News: vcad.ca/News
Apply to VCAD: vcad.ca/Admissions
Spring 2011 Newsletter
What Does Spring Mean to You?
Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and Vancouver’s endless rain has turned into slightly-warmer endless rain. Spring has finally arrived! VCAD is celebrating by giving you the chance to turn your raw talent into fabulous prizes! Do you have what it takes to win?
In order to enter, simply draw or paint a picture that symbolizes spring to you and then post it to VCAD’s Facebook page before the April 30, 2011 deadline. Don’t limit yourself to bunnies and tulips, this contest is meant to encourage you to be your most creative. Risk-taking and thinking-outside-the-box are highly encouraged!
Entries will be voted on by our Facebook fans from May 1 – 15, 2011 so make sure you invite your friends to “like” VCAD’s Facebook page and vote for your entry. Contest winners will be announced on Facebook on May 18, 2011.
Prizes will consist of a gift card of your choice, with first place taking home $150, second place $50 and third place $25 (plus bragging rights, of course). Good luck!
Iconic Vancouver Photographers
Originating in the 1970s and 1980s, the “Vancouver School” of photography is a high-intensity style that often focuses on social imagery, particularly within the urban landscape, and is often shot in and around the city itself.
Jeff Wall is among the best known Vancouver School photographers. His backlit, richly saturated photos may appear to be candid, but each has been painstakingly styled to create an ultra-realistic effect.
Ian Wallace is considered to be the father of the Vancouver School of photography. His avant-garde style combines documentary photography with painting and other forms of manipulation. Similarly, photographers Vikky Alexander and Roy Arden’s work use a conceptual approach to examine the relationship between the urban and natural world.
Who are some of your favourite photographers? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!
Why is Spring a Great Time to Head Back to School?
Spring is one of the best times to get your life in order. We asked you why you thought spring was a great time to head back to school - take a look at what your peers had to say:
“@VCAD There's something poetic about the idea of starting a new career while all the new foliage is blooming...” - @shoegrrl214 on Twitter
“Spring is a better time because everything is fresh and new! You are more motivated because of the sunshine!” – Lisa on Facebook
Why did you decide to head back to school? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!
Best Public Art in Vancouver
Great art isn’t just found in fancy galleries; some of the coolest can be found in public spaces. Here are some of our favourites:
“We” Jaume Plensa (Sunset Beach) - Seated among picnickers and dog-walkers, this sculpture forms a giant human made from the letters of multiple alphabets.
“Digital Orca” Douglas Coupland (Vancouver Convention Centre) - As quintessentially “Vancouver” as Douglas Coupland himself, this pixelized killer whale addresses the massive changes in British Columbia’s economy.
“Monument for East Vancouver” Ken Lum (East 6th at Clark Drive) - Love it or hate it, this 60-foot symbol of East Vancouver defiance is an edgy and thought-provoking piece.
What's some of your favourite public art in Vancouver? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!
Student Tax Tips
Students can write off many of their educational expenses. For example, tuition, student loan interest and textbooks are all non-refundable tax credits, meaning they can only be used to reduce your tax payment to zero (but won’t generate a refund).Any unused credits can be transferred to a spouse or other taxpayer, with the exception of student loan interest, which can only be claimed by the student.
However, tax credits for student loan interest can be carried forward five years. Don’t forget to claim your child care costs and keep your monthly bus passes, too. They’re tax deductible in BC!
What are your tax tips? Share them with us!
Spring 2011 Newsletter
Best Weatherproof Fashions for Spring
Spring is a great time to shed dull winter wear and embrace a lighter aesthetic. Here are a few rain-proof ideas to carry you through the unsettled spring weather.
- Weatherproof wellies are a springtime essential. Hunter makes a range of classics, while Tretorn specialize in a rugged look. Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, and more make high-fashion rain boots.
- Investing in a few colourful umbrellas is a great way to perk up any soggy ensemble. Look for unique shapes, colours, and fabrics to build your collection.
- Whether it’s Hermes or H&M, a lightweight scarf is one of the most fashionable ways to keep the spring chill at bay. Pick up tying tricks from online tutorials and high-end retailers.
What are some of your spring fashion faves? Share with us on Facebook!