FOUNDATION YEAR IN VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE | 8 MONTHS | 2 SEMESTERS

Dawson City | Yuhkè Zho

The Foundation Year Program at the Yukon School of Visual Arts is a university level program, equivalent to the first year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA). In the YSOVA Foundation Year Program you will have an opportunity to explore a wide range of materials and mediums in a school setting designed specifically for this program.

The Foundation Year Program at YSOVA is designed and run by artists, for artists. Foundation Year disciplines include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, installation and performance. Our English courses are specifically catered to our visual arts program and focus on how language can be used as part of an artist’s creative and professional development. You can read more about our course offerings here. Our Foundation Year students are each assigned an individual studio space in a shared studio environment for the duration of the program.

Throughout the year there are scheduled field trips to important Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin heritage sites, visiting artist lectures and workshops, and many opportunities to get involved in the vibrant arts community of Dawson City.



The Foundation Year Program is ideal for:

  • High school graduates from the Yukon and beyond who are interested in pursuing visual arts at the university level

  • Mature students seeking an immersive environment in which to develop a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the visual art process, theory and practice in a unique location.

This program may be for you if:

  • You are serious about studying art and are considering applying to a college or university art/design program but would like a first-year experience in a small, attentive program, before attending a larger institution.

  • You have an arts practice but haven’t attended art school and would like to evolve your visual arts skills and gain a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary art and artists.

  • You want to make art as part of a small cohort with the support and expertise of YSOVA faculty and staff, facilities, and visiting artists.

  • You have always wanted to spend a winter in a small, subarctic, artist community and you are open to learning about how to be a respectful guest on Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Territory.


Graduates from the YSOVA Foundation Year Program receive a Visual Arts Certificate from Yukon University. Many of our graduates elect to continue their studies at one of our partner schools.