Research

Research at ECU

Over recent years, ECU has made significant investments in expanding how research connects to the various communities that surround the university. This commitment to research as a core strategic priority was reaffirmed in the institution’s 2017-2021 Strategic Plan titled “Eight Commitments to an Emergent Future.” We believe that research in visual arts, media arts, and design is vital for the cultural wealth of local and global communities. Additionally, we seek to promote research that demonstrates the social significance of art and design scholarship in transforming post-secondary education and citizenship.

Research at Emily Carr supports significant initiatives and projects by organizing secure research infrastructure and funding. Our network of researchers, faculty, students, and industry partners benefits from Emily Carr University’s evolving suite of state-of-the-art digital, fine art, and media-based technologies and facilities. Together, we advance knowledge in unique fields, pursue interdisciplinary experimentation, and develop and enhance projects in all disciplines.

Graduate and undergraduate students benefit through direct involvement in research projects under the leadership and guidance of researchers and faculty supervisors. Students access projects and opportunities through our Centres' Directors and their collaborative industry projects and through Emily Carr University faculty who pursue practice-based research in clusters and collaborations.

The Emily Carr University Research Ethics Board (ECU-REB) promotes a high standard of ethics and integrity in research and scholarship. All university-affiliated research and scholarship involving human participants requires review and approval of the ECU-REB prior to the start of research activities involving participants.

Our research empowers new means of production, employment, creative and aesthetic expression, and culminates in a wealth of opportunities for our graduates.

Funding for Research

We are thankful to the government agencies that encourage academic research with funding opportunities through the Research Support Fund and Tri-Agency programs. Our researchers have access to SSHRC and Canada Council of the Arts programs. Industry partnerships are supported by NSERC and NRC, IRAP funds. CFI and BCKDF funds have made research infrastructure available to our researchers and their project partners. MITACS provides opportunities for our students to collaborate with industry in research projects.

If you are interested in finding out more about research funding opportunities or are looking for industry partnerships, please contact research[at]ecuad.ca

Research at Emily Carr defined.

Applied Research in Visual Arts is centred on professional practices that have a variety of outcomes, including the skills needed to work in galleries, museums, film and multimedia, the craft industry, teaching and communications as well as in arts administration and the cultural industries as a whole. Emerging areas in the Visual Arts include installation, performance using digital tools, public art, virtual reality experimentation, multimedia and interactive art.

Applied Research in Design focuses on enhancing creativity and collaboration in the design process, the innovatory use of new and natural materials, the relationship between design and new kinds of economies and methodologies. Additional areas of applied investigation and professional learning include interface and web design, communication design, new media, gaming, environment design, limited production object design and craft, digital technologies, design and cross-cultural contexts, medical product design, urbanism and sustainable design as well as high performance niche product design.

Applied Research in Media Arts is production and practice oriented so that graduate students will learn not only how to make media, but also how to develop works, create collaborative infrastructures for projects and develop various modes of distribution. An example of a project linked to this area is streaming video, which will allow independent filmmakers to create video for the Internet and distribute it at the same time.

The research centres at Emily Carr University are communities of applied academic researchers with a common purpose. As research clusters they focus on areas of research interest that may include faculty from different disciplines, and on applications where Emily Carr is making significant national and international contribution.

We have established a number of formal centres, which are detailed within this section and in the sidebar on this page, however there are also other emergent clusters with the distinction being the level of funding and activity. Centres and clusters are a way to formalize collaborative relationships between faculty and students and to give greater visibility and access to specific areas of investigation to our external community and partners. Not all research activity fits within these groups, projects frequently overlap, and they will evolve over time.

The allocation of Chairs to individual universities is an integral part of the Canada Research Chairs program. Firstly, the allocation process ensures a dynamic program that responds to shifting research success at Canada’s academic institutions. Secondly, the process works to attract and retain individuals who are recognized as the world's most accomplished and promising researchers. Chair-holders aim to achieve research excellence in their areas of study, and to strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness as they improve depth of knowledge, quality of life, and develop the next generation through student supervision, teaching and research creation and coordination.