As the only 2-year program in Canada dedicated to photography as a fine art, SPAO will provide you with a unique opportunity to master both contemporary and historic techniques. Unlike programs focused solely on commercial photography, SPAO will launch your artistic career through a personalized and transformative experience. Our success is built on small class sizes, hands-on learning, and exclusive access to rare equipment and leading industry experts.

Yes! 

Whether you are an accomplished visual artist, a recent high school graduate, or a retiree looking to invest your passion, we want to support you.  We value your creative vision, dedication and community spirit over prior photographic experience. 

All that is required is proof of a high school diploma or SPAO can administer a 12 minute wonderlic test ($30 CAD).

Ideally situated in a vibrant urban village just steps from Dow’s Lake, SPAO thrives as a creative hub for a diverse community of passionate artists. You and your program cohorts will collaborate on community projects, work out creative challenges over coffee, and support each other's artistic journeys. It’s a place where ideas flourish, and lifelong connections are made.

Your SPAO faculty and mentors are respected industry professionals and experts in their field of focus. They are the recipients of numerous awards and their work has been featured in media, textbooks and exhibitions around the world.

Visit Our Team page to learn more about the experiences and qualifications of individual faculty members.

You will leave SPAO with the skills, experience, and portfolio needed to pursue your career as a photo-based artist, commercial photographer, and/or work within the arts and cultural sector. Unlike programs that focus on photography alone, you will acquire the skills and knowledge required to build a successful arts practice.

Visit our Alumni Achievements page to view our graduate’s successes.

Our tuition fees average approximately $7500 CAD per year + kit fees and optional fees. As a Designated Learning Institution (DLI # 0264423058712), you can access student loans through your bank or use RESP or RRSP’s towards your studies with no penalty. 

View our Prospectus and Fees document for a detailed breakdown of all student expenses.

We have a straightforward application that is designed to help us get to know you better. We want to learn about your goals and what you want to achieve.

STEP 1: Contact Information
Fill out your contact information.

STEP 2: Pay the Application Fee
Pay the $50 CAD application fee via Paypal. You don’t need a Paypal account since they provide an alternate account-free ‘Check Out’ option. You can also email admin@spao.ca for alternative payment options.

STEP 3: Show Us Who You Are
You’ll be prompted to answer a few questions about yourself as well as upload samples of your photography or artwork.

STEP 4: The Interview
After you’ve completed the questionnaire, you will be contacted to schedule an interview with a senior team member. You will use this interview opportunity to speak about your passion and the goals you hope to accomplish while at SPAO.

Click here to access the application for admission. We look forward to getting to know you!

Learn more here.