Engage with art + ecology to foster cultural transformation.
The MFA in Critical Ecological Practices is a two-year, low-residency program for artists and creative practitioners exploring ecological topics through research-driven art.
This cohort-based program challenges anthropocentric ways of thinking, embracing critical reflection and nurturing models of kinship built on empathy, compassion and mutual reciprocity with the more-than-human world.
The low-residency format combines synchronous online learning with two immersive summer residencies in Vancouver, where students pursue independent and collaborative research, build connections and access Emily Carr University’s world-class facilities.
What You’ll Learn
The program emphasizes collaborative research, participatory methodologies, and speculative approaches to art-making that address ecological issues.
Through research seminars, studio classes, public presentations, and lectures from renowned artists and scholars, students refine their artistic practice and develop innovative approaches to contemporary ecology.
All program elements culminate in a thesis project that integrates practical and written components, allowing students to contribute to a global dialogue through transformative, research-driven art practices.
Program Highlights
- Challenge anthropocentric thinking through critical reflection, more-than-human worldviews, and material experimentation from your home studio
- Combine synchronous online coursework during the fall and spring terms with immersive, summer residencies that offer hands-on, exploratory research at Emily Carr University’s world-class studios and labs
- Cultivate a research-driven thesis project that meaningfully responds to current ecology through contemporary art production
- Engage with peers, faculty, and visiting artists through seminars, critiques, and public programming that support deep inquiry and artistic experimentation
