The Show
Each year, The Show showcases the graduating class’s creative work through a combined virtual and on-campus exhibition. Whether your practice is digital, material or site-specific, this exhibition gives you a platform to share, reflect, and connect, both locally and globally.
To participate, make sure you review the Show Handbook carefully. It’s your guide for submission, formats, exhibition guidelines and award eligibility.
Virtual Exhibition
- Open to all graduating students, regardless of location
- You control your online page: upload images, media and artist statements
- Exhibitions are archived — your work becomes part of ECU’s digital legacy
Before You Apply
- Review the Show Handbook for all requirements and instructions
- Decide which one of your projects qualifies for on-campus display and what part of your practice to show on the website. Remember: you can only display one project on-campus, so ask your faculty member for feedback on your work.
- Ensure you meet deadline dates and submission formats
- Plan ahead for logistics: digital media, transportation, installation, etc.
On-campus Exhibition
- Designed for students in Vancouver, B.C.
- You must commit to work drop-off, install, de-install and artwork pickup
- Projects must meet Exhibition Considerations and Install Guidelines
- If your work requires special equipment, consult technicians and faculty
Next Steps + Resources
- Review the Show Handbook – coming soon!
- Review the important deadlines below
- Contact The Show team if you have any questions
A Note about the Show Handbook
The Show Handbook is a guide for graduating students who are exhibiting work in the ECU Grad Show and will be updated in Spring 2026.
Until then, note these important dates for those planning to participate in the the On-campus Exhibition.
Students participating in Dynamic Media screenings will receive updates from the DDM faculty. Please contact Leslie Bishko for questions.
| All Grad Meeting – Online | March 10 at 3:30pm on Teams. Watch your email for the link. |
| All Grad Meeting – In Person, Reliance Theatre | March 12 from 11:30am – 12:30pm. |
| Applications Open | March 10 |
| Application Deadline | March 24 |
| Work Drop-off Deadline | April 28 |
| Label Submission Deadline | April 28 |
| On-campus Installation Day | May 5 |
| Additional Install Days | May 6 – 8 |
| The Show Opening Night | May 13 |
| Convocation | May 14 |
| The Show Closing | May 27 |
| De-install Days | May 28-29 |
| Additional De-install Day | June 1 |
How to Install and Take Down Your Work
Please read through the detailed How to Install Your Work brochure carefully before you submit your campus exhibition application form.
The following information pertains to all students showing artwork on campus.
- Centre of work must be at 56″ from the floor
- No candles, flames or burning of materials of any kind.
- Flammable liquids and other hazardous materials are not permitted in your work.
- No live animals or insects are permitted in your work.
- Do not obscure or remove fire extinguishers, signage, security phones or any other safety equipment. These must be visible and accessible at all times.
- Do not cover or enclose the access to the electrical panels in any space.
- No installations are to be hung from pipes, duct work, sprinkler heads or light fixtures. Only structural pipes are to be used for suspending work.
- No installations are to be located at or within door entrances, elevators, stairwells or fire exits.
- Do not suspend or hang work upon or through the light wells/atriums.
- No installations are to be located in washrooms.
- No installations are to be hung upon, or interfere with, any support beams or ceiling panels.
- No unauthorized lighting fixtures (clamp lights, etc). Get permission before using specialty lighting of any kind.
- No installations are to compromise university HVAC systems. Install work only on walls with plywood backing. (Please see map)
- Screws must pass through drywall into a plywood wall, and not enter beyond 30mm. No nails. Consult with a Technician if not sure.
- Do not use permanent felt markers or pens on walls as they bleed through the paint and are difficult to cover. Walls are painted with (Dulux) flat Latex, obtainable from the Tool Crib.
- When painting walls, use painters tape and drop sheets to keep the area clean.
- Do not paint or alter any of the following: light switches, electrical outlet covers, fire pull stations, room numbers, doors, windows, floors, thermostats, security phones, door jambs, baseboards, lights or light fixtures, air ducts, fire extinguishers, water fountains, wooden or metal beams, floors and carpets, thermostats, ceilings, temperature controls, metal corner guards.
- Tools for installing your work are available at the Tool Checkout + Resale, but it is recommended to provide your own in case there is high demand for certain tools.
- All installation-related painting or spray painting must be done in any of the 3 ventilation booths in the school. 1st floor C1290 by the Tool Checkout, 3rd floor C3226 through room C3247 attached to the Design Woodshop, 4th floor A4016 near Print media.
- : you are responsible for restoring the space back to its original condition once you take down your work at the end of the show. Plan ahead for this necessary step. Technicians will take care of patching holes and doing paint touch-ups.
Pre-Installation Notes
Students whose works are not completely installed by the deadline indicated on this page will have their work removed from the exhibition. Any installations/exhibits that are deemed unsafe by the safety committee or facilities will be removed from the exhibition unless modifications are made to comply with requirements:
- The floors will be polished before installation begins. Therefore, do not drag heavy things across the floor as this will leave marks on the floor.
Security
This is a concern for everyone, not just those who bring their own equipment. As with the regular school term, you are financially responsible for the cost of any theft of, or damage to, any ECU equipment in your possession. If you provide your own – or rental – equipment, ECU will not be responsible for any theft of, or damage to, this equipment.
Evaluate Your Submissions
All students planning to exhibit on campus will need to conduct an evaluation of their submissions using the following considerations. Your Faculty reps and Program Technicians can talk you through any problems you may be facing and help scale your submission so that it is viable.
Failure to address these guidelines when developing and installing your work may result in the The Show Committee to remove your piece from the exhibition. It is in the best interests of the Emily Carr community that we all work together to create a safe environment for all. Our collective goal is to exercise due diligence towards these important health and safety issues, and to avoid legal and financial consequences for all involved.
General Areas of Concern
Does the construction/installation process create any hazards?
What can be done to mitigate the hazards?
Will construction make use of dangerous/harmful materials?
Are you proficient in the use of tools and equipment being utilized in construction/installation?
Is all electrical equipment contained within the piece CSA approved?
Will your electrical equipment overload any circuits?
Are there tripping hazards posed by cables and construction materials?
Are you following safety procedures if working at heights?
Do you require the mechanical lift? (If yes, indicate the request on your Campus Exhibition Application form.)
Is the piece structurally sound? (Is there any possibility of it collapsing while being built or when finished?)
Does the piece impede any building exit or access points? (for example, doors, fire exits, stairs, elevators, etc.)
Does the finished piece create any hazards? Consider that the public viewing your piece will come in all sizes and perspectives.
- Sharp, jagged edges or corners which may cause injury
- Movable parts that may strike a person.
- Possibility of contact with live electricity or moving parts.
- Parts that may short circuit, wear out, or be easily broken through.
Is the piece interactive? If so:
- Post signs that give clear instructions on how to use the piece.
- Create safeguards for any possible hazards that may arise from interactivity (for example, guardrails if the piece is raised off the ground, caution signs for pinch hazards).
Is there a possibility that the public misjudges your piece and think it is interactive, when it is not? If so, post signs that clearly indicate “Do Not Touch”.
Are there any other dangers that are particular to your piece? Warnings should be posted at the room entrance to such exhibits. For example:
- Strobes or flashing lights may trigger seizures in people with epilepsy.
- Loud noises that may startle.
- Sensitive content that may trigger viewers