Visual Arts Club / Portfolio Development
Build a body of work in visual art
Why It Matters
Essential for fine arts, design, and architecture programs. A strong portfolio built over years is what gets you into competitive programs at OCAD, Ryerson/TMU, and UBC.
How to Start
Join your school's art club and supplement with outside classes or independent projects. Build a digital portfolio on Behance or Adobe Portfolio. Enter the RBC Emerging Artists competition.
Commitment
- Medium commitment: a few hours most weeks during the school year.
- Best starting grade: G7
- G7 or G8 - the earlier you start building a portfolio, the more polished it will be by G12.
Programs It Supports
- Fine Arts
- Graphic Design
- Architecture
- Interior Design
Majors it supports
- Fine Arts – high 70s to high 80s - portfolio is the primary admission factor
- Graphic Design – high 70s to high 80s - strong portfolio required
- Architecture – mid to high 80s - portfolio is required
- Interior Design – high 70s to high 80s - portfolio required
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest Visual Arts Club / Portfolio Development as a good fit for their applicants.
- York University – Toronto, ON
- Concordia University – Montreal, QC
Similar extracurriculars
- School Drama / Theatre Production – Perform, direct, or produce school plays
- School Band / Orchestra / Choir – Perform in a school ensemble long-term
- CBC First Page Student Writing Challenge – CBC Books' national creative writing challenge for G7-G12
- Film & Photography Club – Shoot, edit, and produce visual stories
- Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Exams – Canada's national music certification system
- School Play / Musical Director – Direct or stage-manage the annual school production
- Yearbook Editor-in-Chief – Manage a massive year-long design and publishing project
- Mural Painter / Beautification Committee – Design and paint permanent artwork in school hallways
- Improv Team / Comedy Troupe – Compete in local improv games or perform at lunch