Certificates

Learn from professional artists in a supportive, hands-on environment. Build your skills without pursuing a degree. Showcase your artwork at a public exhibition.

The Community Arts and Artisanship Certificate and Advanced Community Arts and Artisanship Certificate are community level certificates designed for people who want to develop their art practice without pursuing a degree. They provide a structured learning environment where art students can choose to learn a specific technique in depth with successive classes, work on broadening their skills by exploring many techniques, or a combination of both.

Our non-credit courses focus on developing skills and techniques in a hands-on way, and are taught by professional artists who are knowledgeable, supportive, and enthusiastic. All our classes are open to the public. The certificate programs are for students who would like formal acknowledgement of their studies, who are looking to build a portfolio before pursuing an art degree, or who simply enjoy creating art while working towards a goal.

Arts and Artisanship Certificate

Students are required to successfully complete 300 course hours plus the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition. 

Required courses:

  • Drawing I
  • One of Principles and Elements of Design or Perspective and Composition

Students must complete a minimum of 90 hours of classwork in one of the following areas of concentration:

  • Drawing
  • Glass Art
  • Metalwork
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Sculpture
  • Special Topics
  • Textiles

Students must complete the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition. This consists of 6 hours of private mentoring and costs the same as a 10-week course plus a final exhibition materials fee.

For more information about the Certificate program, email community.arts@usask.ca or call 306-966-5530.

Advanced Arts and Artisanship Certificate

This certificate allows students to be recognized for this higher-level study, and provide them with an opportunity to have a second mentorship and exhibition experience, both of which are valuable for artist development.

Students must have completed the Certificate in Community Arts and Artisanship, the Certificate in Art and Design (for students admitted 2015 or earlier), or a B.F.A in Studio Art to be eligible for admission.

Students are required to successfully complete 300 course hours plus one of the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition options detailed below. 

Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition options:

  • Extended Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition, which consists of 12 hours of private mentoring and costs the same as two 10-week courses plus a final exhibition materials fee; or
  • Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition, and one additional full course in any of the areas of concentration. This option is available only to those students who have completed a juried show of their work with a significant number of pieces (5+) exhibited. Documentation of the show must be provided.

Considering courses taken for both programs, students must complete a minimum of 180 hours of classwork in one of the following areas of concentration:

  • Drawing
  • Glass Art
  • Metalwork
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Sculpture
  • Special Topics
  • Textiles

For more information about the Advanced Certificate, email community.arts@usask.ca or call 306-966-5530.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admission requirements?

  • Admission fee
  • Students admitted to the USCAD program, offered previously, will not be require to pay a second admission fee.
  • Students must be at least 16 years old to enrol in courses, and must be at least 19 years old to participate in the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition.

When should I register? 

Anytime! You do not need to have taken classes with us yet, or you can take as many as you want before registering.

Will my classes taken previously with you count towards my certificate?

Yes. Any classes that have been taken through us will count towards these certificates. For classes taken prior to 2008, students must provide documentation.

If I am an "expired" USCAD student, can I transfer into the Community Arts and Artisanship Certificate program? 

Yes. Contact us at community.arts@usask.ca. You will not need to pay the admission fee again, and your past classes will count towards your certificate. Unlike the previous USCAD program, students will no longer be subject to having courses expire after five years prior to completion of the program, a change which aligns with the college’s policies for degree-level courses and programs. 

While you can no longer expire, students taking more than 10 years to complete their Community Arts and Artisanship Certificate or Advanced Community Arts and Artisanship Certificate will usually be required to meet current certificate and graduation requirements.

When are your classes offered? 

We have fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. Weekday classes are 3 hours/week for 10, 8 or 5 weeks and we also have intensive weekend classes.

What levels do you offer and what are the prerequisites?

Courses in each of the areas of concentration can be offered at three levels: I, II and III. Prerequisites:

  • Level I class or a portfolio submission is required as a pre-requisite for any level II class.
  • Level II class or a portfolio submission is required as a pre-requisite for any level III class.

Can I take the same class twice and have it count towards my certificate?

  • Students may take the same class more than once for credit toward certificate requirements as long as the content/techniques differ significantly, for example the same class offered by a different instructor.
  • Students may choose to take the same class more than once, with the same content/techniques, but such enrolments will only be counted once toward certificate requirements. 

Do you give number grades?

No. The final grade mode for all courses will be Completed or Incompleted (CMPT/INC).

How can I get my transcript?

Log in to the registration system and click on My Reports. This is also where you can get your tax receipts.

Can I take more than ten classes and have them appear on my graduating transcript? 

Yes. Many people choose to take more classes before making the commitment to register for the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition. They will all appear on your final certificate transcript.

Can I get credit for classes taken elsewhere?

Yes. Both certificate programs are structured to allow for transfer credit and acknowledgement of prior learning when reasonable, to ensure that students have the greatest access and the largest number of pathway options that we can make available.

What should I know about getting transfer credit from an accredited post-secondary institution?

  • No fee will be charged.

University of Saskatchewan:

  • Any ART course taken at the University of Saskatchewan, in one of the listed areas of concentration, will be accepted for credit toward program requirements.
  • There is no limit on the number of University of Saskatchewan courses which may be transferred.

Other accredited post-secondary institutions:

  • A maximum of 5 full courses, or equivalent, may be used to fulfill program requirements.
  • A copy of the course syllabus and the student’s transcript must be submitted to Community Arts in support of the transfer credit application.

Contact us at community.arts@usask.ca to submit your documentation to get credit for classes taken elsewhere.

What should I know about Prior Learning and Recognition (PLAR)?

  • Courses taken from non-accredited art schools may be evaluated for credit toward the certificate requirements.
  • A limit of 3 full courses, or equivalent, will be accepted for credit toward program requirements.
  • A non-refundable application fee will be applied to evaluate courses for PLAR.
  • A copy of the course syllabus and proof of successful completion (such as a certificate, report card, or a letter from the instructor/school) of the course must be submitted to us in support of the PLAR application.

Contact us at community.arts@usask.ca to submit your documentation and apply for PLAR.

What happens during the Mentorship and Graduation Exhibition?

The mentorship consists of private mentoring with one of our art instructors, usually over 6 to 9 months. The joint graduation exhibition show takes place on campus at the Snelgrove Gallery. An online show option (in place of the gallery show) is available to those students who request it. Typically the mentorship will include:

  • Review of portfolio: Your mentor will take a look at all your work and help you determine your strengths and interests, your voice as an artist, and the direction you are heading in. This will include recommendations for what to put in an artist statement.
  • Theme and work for final show: Your mentor will outline the process of putting together a show and what elements are needed to make it cohesive and impactful. They will make recommendations for a theme to unify your graduation show, and also make suggestions for new work to round out and strengthen your show. In keeping with professional practices, you will submit a proposal for your final show.
  • Professional development: Where do you want to go next as an artist? Your mentor will give you tips and tools to help you continue to grow, get your art out there into the community, make a living through your art practice, or explore other options like teaching.
  • Studio, show or gallery tour: Your mentor may host you at their studio, go to a show, or visit a gallery with you to give you an inside look at the art world, and a chance to understand what happens behind the scenes at all stages of the process, from the first idea for new work to the final show.
  • Review of final show work (6-8 pieces): Your mentor will work with you to finalize the pieces to be included in the show, including new pieces you may have created, and talk about the practical aspects of presentation, framing, and hanging. Your mentor will also look at your artist statement, and suggest any edits to improve it.
  • Hanging the show: Your mentor will help you hang your show at the Snelgrove so that your pieces truly shine and that your commitment to art, your hard work, and your creativity are displayed in the very best way.

Are there any other professional development resources I can access?

Yes, CARFAC SASK offers workshops through the year on various topics that may be of interest to you.

Where can I see some past graduation show artwork?

Contact us at community.arts@usask.ca if you are registered as a Certificate or Advanced Certificate student and are ready for us to help you find a mentor and get started on planning your graduation exhibition.