Course Descriptions

This course is designed to expand students' understanding of the nature of performance through study of the genesis, theory and practice of various disciplines and concepts of performativity. Through exposure to a variety of approaches to contemporary performance creation, students will develop their capacities for analysis and critique in order to be able to identify and solve aesthetic, formal and conceptual problems in their own performance practice. Concepts covered are intended to support students in creation exercises in BPAC 403.

This course focuses on developing the skills necessary to create mutually beneficial partnerships with funding sources. It examines the critical role played by resource development activities in producing work and sustaining a performance facilitation/creation practice. Students will develop the skills to construct and deliver effective funding proposals in traditional avenues such as grant writing and corporate sponsorship, as well as social media and online fundraising operations. Students will become familiar with the various agreements under which artists affiliated with professional associations and unions can be engaged as well as aspects of intellectual property and copyright law.

This course will broaden the areas of expertise of Bachelor of Performing Arts students by offering instruction in various project development cycles. The course will outline and differentiate between various creation techniques as well as project management frameworks. Exercises/assignments will model best practices, culminating in a production plan that may be extended into a capstone project.

A companion course to BPAC 400, this course is designed to expand students' media sensibility. Through hands-on experimentation with a variety of approaches to contemporary performance creation, students will develop their ability to choose media suited to an intended expressive purpose in order to be able to identify and solve aesthetic, formal and conceptual problems in their own performance practice.

BPAC 404 builds on the analytical skills and understanding of performance developed in BPAC 400. Students will refine their own performance aesthetic in preparation for work to be presented in the end of program capstone projects.

This course will broaden the areas of expertise for Bachelor of Performing Arts students by offering instruction in various production planning skills. The skills may vary from year to year depending on the needs of the cohort and may be selected from but not limited to the following topics: Budgeting, Production Management, Production Scheduling, Symposium workshops with local Producers and Company Managers.

Students will acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate an entrepreneurial career in the cultural sector. Topics covered may include but are not limited to: an overview of networked digital media; their revenue models and use as promotional platforms; effective networking; liaising with communities, cultural institutions and funding bodies; and working in the digitally augmented performance space.

BPAC 407 is the practice-based companion to BPAC 404, and follows on the practice-based BPAC 403 by situating the creative process within a production development cycle. Students will conceptualize, create and produce a capstone performance.