About the Faculty of Fine Arts

Mission Statement   |   Who's Who  |   Where We Are

York University's Faculty of Fine Arts is one of North America's premier professional training and research institutions for the visual and performing arts. One of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind in Canada and the only fine arts faculty in the province of Ontario, it brings together some 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and 250 full-time and part-time faculty working at the leading edge of fine arts practice and scholarship.

The Faculty of Fine Arts offers in-depth academic studies (history, theory, criticism) and intensive, hands-on studio training in all the fine arts: dance, design, digital media, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Degree programs offered include the BA, BFA, BDes, MA, MFA, MDes and PhD, plus graduate diplomas and joint MA/MBA programs with York’s Graduate Program in Arts and Media Administration.

Programs emphasize contemporary artistic production and processes, including the integration of new and emerging technologies, alongside traditional modes of artistic theory and practice. There is a strong commitment to the inclusion of global cultures, collaborative and interdisciplinary work, and intercultural research. Visiting artists and scholars, workshops, master classes and conferences augment the curriculum, which is also enriched by opportunities for internships and international exchanges.

Fine Arts students at York study, create, rehearse, produce, perform and conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities, supported by the extensive scholarly resources of Canada’s second-largest university. Each year, the Faculty of Fine Arts presents a full season of public events, and students have many options to showcase their work, both on and off campus.

York's location in the heart of Metropolitan Toronto offers students unparalleled opportunites to enrich their learning experience by exploring, experiencing and contributing to the rich, diverse arts scene in Canada's cultural - and multicultural - capital.