Simon Fraser University - School for the Contemporary Arts

The School for the Contemporary Arts (SCA) at Simon Fraser University is an interdisciplinary arts academy based in downtown Vancouver. Housed primarily in the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, the school integrates studio production with academic inquiry into cultural theory, art history, and cinema. It emphasizes a collaborative environment where students across disciplines—including film, music, dance, and theatre—regularly cross-pollinate their practices.

Creative Disciplines and Pedagogy

The SCA curriculum moves beyond traditional conservatory models, focusing on critical thinking and material creation. Each program leverages specific physical and digital workflows:

• Film: Students engage in a hybrid production model that pairs foundational 16mm analog training (using Arriflex and Bolex cameras) with advanced digital cinema workflows, including RED camera systems and professional field recording.
• Music & Sound: This creation-based program focuses on electroacoustic music, psychoacoustics, and spatial audio. Rather than traditional performance, students develop electronic instruments, interactive musical robots, and generative sound installations using visual programming environments like MaxMSP.
• Performance Production & Design: This pathway focuses on the architecture of live performance. Students utilize CAD software like Vectorworks to manage lighting plots and projection mapping, gaining hands-on experience through roles in official school productions.

Facilities and Approach

The school's infrastructure reinforces its hands-on philosophy. The Goldcorp Centre for the Arts provides dedicated production labs, the Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, and the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, while the 611 Alexander Studios supports advanced visual art fabrication. Due to the requirement for physical studio labs and ensemble collaboration, all programs are delivered in-person.