Submitted. All UFV Theatre programs, including degree, associate degree, and diploma courses, will be relocating to the Abbotsford UFV campus for the start of the September 2017 semester.
The move consolidates UFV College of Arts programs at the Abbotsford campus and is required to increase enrollment and foster connections between Theatre and a wide variety of undergraduate programs at UFV. The relocation will also help link performance-based learning with many other disciplines at the Abbotsford campus.
While some details are still being formulated, preparation and renovation of space to accommodate studio and classroom-based theatre activities will occur this summer with move-in completed before the start of classes in Abbotsford in September.
“The decision to move the program was announced a number of years ago. We thank our community supporters, sponsors, faculty, staff, and students for their patience during this time of transition,” said Jacqueline Nolte, Dean of the College of Arts at UFV. “The move will help the program evolve toward an emphasis on performance-based learning that is integrated with the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the newly approved Bachelor of Media Arts, and other Arts programs on the Abbotsford campus. This will ensure accessibility to a greater variety of students across many disciplines.”
Live performances at the Chilliwack North campus will continue until the end of this academic semester in May. In 2017/18, the department will produce public performances in Abbotsford that emphasize innovative, exciting, collaborative and, most importantly, student-generated work.
“The Theatre department is very pleased to be joining the other Arts programs on the Abbotsford campus,” said Heather Davis-Fisch, Theatre department head. “This will strengthen our connections with other creative arts disciplines, create new interdisciplinary collaborations and performance-based learning opportunities for students, and allow Theatre to contribute to the cultural life of UFV in new ways. This will help the newly launched Theatre major to flourish in the future and will enrich the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Media Arts programs.”
The development on the old UFV Chilliwack North site is underway and UFV continues to market the remaining property as part of its agreement with the provincial government.