Four graduate students at Emily Carr University each received $3,000 to support research during their degree studies.
The 2024 recipients of Future Creative Catalysts Graduate Research Fellowships at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) were recently announced.
Graduate students Boya Liang (MFA 2025), Logan Wilkinson (MDes 2025), Pip Mamo (MFA 2025) and Marnie Temple (MFA 2025) each received $3,000 to support their thesis research.
“Grants like this give students the opportunity to experiment, innovate and take risks without financial restrictions holding them back,” Pip Mamo says. “Attending an MFA program provides a special opportunity to devote time and thought to your practice, which is hard to find throughout life. Receiving this grant allows me to take full advantage of my time at ECU, to think big and to create projects I wouldn’t otherwise have the financial support to realize.”
The Future Creative Catalysts Graduate Research Fellowships aim to foster innovative art and design research at ECU. The Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies established the fellowships to provide graduate students with opportunities for advancing their research and professional practice through projects and/or research-creation.
“Our graduate programs attract incredibly talented artists and designers who are engaged in transformational research and dynamic creative practices, and the fellowships are here to help accelerate that important work,” says Justin Langlois, Associate Vice President of Research + Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at ECU. “This year’s recipients are working at ambitious and impactful scales, and I cannot wait to see how the fellowship will help them to advance their thesis projects.”
Eligibility includes a research focus that aligns with one or more of the themes of ECU’s Strategic Research Plan including, Indigenous Research; Environmental Sustainability, Ecological Justice and Climate Action; Social Justice, Health and Community Wellbeing; Experimental Forms of Practice-Based Research; Creative Engagement and Critical Perspectives in Emergent Technologies; Land and Place-Based Research; and Critical Pedagogical Methodologies were invited to apply.
“This funding will enable me to expand the scope of my creative and academic practice by developing prototypes and hosting exhibitions that highlight sound’s role in fostering agency and connection within institutional spaces,” says Logan Wilkinson. “I plan to invest in tools to deepen my multimedia creative work and enhance my ability to create opportunities for skill- and community-building at ECU through Radio Emily. I also hope to extend my practice beyond the scope of the school and into the community through participatory design workshops in healthcare contexts.”
More About the Master of Design program at ECU
We seek designers who aspire to create experiences and transformations locally and globally. Root yourself in our campus community while building connections with industry. Our two-year Master of Design degree program is built on critical, practice-based creative research. Faculty, staff and peers will be with you every step of the way, mentoring, challenging and supporting you.
Visit our website to learn more.
More about the Master of Fine Arts program at ECU
Our two-year full-residency Master of Fine Arts degree offers a concentrated on-campus academic experience, with year-round access to studios, facilities and research centres. The curriculum integrates coursework, creative research, material exploration and a thesis project. All elements are grounded in a dynamic, critique-based environment that encourages risk-taking and the growth of material processes and critical perspectives.
Visit our website to learn more.
More about Research at ECU
As one of the most research-intensive art and design universities in Canada, ECU connects art, media, and design practices with some of the most pressing questions of our time. At ECU, we believe that our research can help to transform the world, build healthier and more vibrant futures, and cultivate cultural resilience throughout our local and global communities and industry partners.
Visit our website to learn more.
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