SWEAT: Structured Work Experience and Training

The Art Institute of Vancouver has held a spring break camp for students interested in the artsy side of the world. For four days, Grade 11 and 12 students from all over Canada will experience what it's like to take a course at AiV. This year, there were 600 students in total who participated, even one from as far as Nova Scotia!

The students get to choose programs from design, media arts, entertainment, fashion and culinary sectors. From my time there, I entered Interior Design and I'd like to give a shout out to my instructors and classmates for having a fabulous time.

We were given tours of the campuses in Vancouver and were served a mouth-watering meal at the last lunch. The students in Culinary Arts showed off their skills in a fantastic buffet, which left me wanting seconds. We also toured a gallery of artwork of those already members of AI and discovered amazing designs.

Our program there mostly consisted of making a project of designing a two-story home. It was an enriching experience, and I left feeling proud of what I had produced. Some students there already had their mind focused on becoming an Interior Designer already, and I was impressed to see such determination and skill. Friends come easy after the first awkward day and I will definitely "Facebook" them to keep in touch!

The Art Institute has 36 educational institutions throughout North America, and SWEAT is one program that senior students definitely do not want to miss. Two of my friends from Fraser Heights also entered the program and they liked it too.

Ariel Liu: "SWEAT is a very intensive art program that leaves you with new friendships, knowledge, and inspiration to keep on doing what you love -- drawing! I enjoyed this program so much in Grade 11 that I applied again this year into the 3D modeling program. Again, it was nothing short of my expectations!"