The School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD)

I chose the Visual Arts – Studio program at York not only for it’s exceptional studio spaces but for the incorporation of art history into the program. In these Art History classes, I’m allowed to learn historical references and methodologies that I incorporate in my own body of work. With the help of professors, I’m able to better my skills and create a cohesive body of work that I can take outside of the university 

Brian G,

Third-year Visual Art – Studio Student

At AMPD, I was given so many opportunities to try all aspects of theatre—whether it was costume design, hanging lights, writing, or acting. Working on so many shows forces you to respect the people around you and build something together that you never could have created on your own.

David Hein (BFA Theatre ’97)

Tony-nominated writer, composer, and lyricist of Come From Away and Waking Ned Devine on Broadway

Throughout my program, I found my AMPD peers to be exceptionally talented, collaborative and inspiring, and I had incredible support from the faculty, particularly my final semester adviser Carol Anna McBride, who constantly inspired us students to think we could leverage our creative skills to bring meaningful change once we stepped out into the world.

Bhabna Banerjee (BFA ‘20)

Production

The Design program provided me with several opportunities to practice professionally and prepare me for my graphic design career. These opportunities span from doing a co-op in my third year, learning about the business of design in Design Management, participating in hackathons with my classmates and more.

Caitlin Lewis

Graphic Designer, Division of Students, York University

Coming out of the Digital Media program gave me a unique advantage in being a front-end developer who has a creative background and is able to think a bit more creatively about development.

Daniel James (BA ’17)

Front-end Software Engineer – Helium Inc.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have toured the world with artists like Do Make Say Think, Andy Shauf, and The Weather Station, while also co-founding festivals, serving on the Board of Directors at the Music Gallery and leading the Guelph Jazz Festival as Artistic Director. I am very grateful for the patience and openness from my teachers at York as I explored various aspects of music and eventually settled into performance and education as my career. This has gifted me with a profound humbleness in what it means to be part of a community and a human of the world.

Karen Ng (Music '06)

Toronto-based musician and curator

One of my favourite things about the Screenwriting program is that you can connect with real filmmakers, people who are actually out there and doing what you want to do, so you can watch things that they have made, and hear directly from them about their process; it is just really helpful to know what it takes to make it, and to develop your own stories.

Oliver B

Current student - Screenwriting

My first-year experience as a theatre and performance student was transformational. Sure, I had heard of York’s reputation as one of the best theatre schools around, though I was not aware of how comprehensive it was, from hands-on tech and design to a deeper understanding of theatre and performance. What amazed me was the collaborative nature, working with peers in a spontaneous whirlwind of creativity. It was electric and eclectic.

William Kerr

First-year Theatre Student