The PVA Teachers are always excited to meet our new applicants and we want you to know that our auditions and interviews are supportive and friendly environments. We want you to feel at home when you enter our school and classrooms. Feeling excited and nervous for this process is normal! We see that you made a decision to challenge yourself in high school and we believe that creativity takes courage, and commend you for starting that journey with us.
Successful PVA Students are…
- Open-minded & Knowledgeable
- Creative Risk-takers & Original Thinkers
- Communicators & Reflective
- Balanced & Organized
- Students who want to grow, stretch, and invest in their learning potential
Your learning with us begins in the audition and/or interview with PVA teachers. Arriving prepared and ready to showcase who you truly are and what you want from this specialized program is the first learning curve of many. Please ensure that you take a good amount of time to prepare for your audition and/or interview. We do not invite students into the program solely based on their skillset or talent. We believe in the whole person, which means that how you speak about what you hope to learn, what you hope to contribute to our community, and why you love learning in your area of the arts is equally as important to us as what you showcase.
Preparation
PVA Visual Arts applicants are expected to sign up for one (1) Interview time and submit a digital portfolio
PVA Visual Arts applicants must submit a digital portfolio. Applicants will submit a downloaded slideshow file (eg. Google Slides or Powerpoint). Please do not try to share the presentation using a link as it is often difficult to open on our end.
Digital Portfolio Requirements:
- 10 – 15 examples of artwork you have completed in the last two years.
- Please show 3 or more different art mediums. For example: graphite, acrylic paint, oil paint, pastels, coloured pencils, ink, marker, sculptures, chalk, watercolour, gouache, etc.
- Show a variety of subject matter. For example: still-life, portraits/people, animals, landscapes, your collections, your own characters, some digital work (no more than 2 pieces), sculptures, etc.
- Sketchbook pages that show practice, experimentation, planning for ideas and reflecting on ideas.
Interview Process:
- Students will arrive at their chosen interview time with 3-5 physical examples of their favorite work and will be partnered up with one of the Visual Arts Teachers.
- The interview is based around their portfolio and is more of a discussion asking students to describe their strengths and areas of growth and goals. Interview questions could include:
- What are your strengths as an artist?
- Which media or subject would you like to improve in?
- Describe the concepts behind your work? What are you trying to express?
- What are your goals if you are accepted into the PVA Art program?
- The interview will be 15 minutes long, and at the end, students are able to ask any questions they may have.
Applicants Parents/Guardians are not expected to attend the interview portion, but are welcome to sit outside the interview and review materials related to our school and program while they wait.