The University’s new Visual Arts program is drawing concern from a Fine Arts student who fears the replacement sacrifices practice for theory.
Two years after suspending admission to its Bachelor of Fine Arts program in 2023, the University’s now preparing to replace it with a new Visual Arts program. In a statement to The Journal, the University explained the new program is “currently progressing through the standard university review process, pending final approval by Senate.” The program will be co-developed and co-run by the Departments of Art History and Art Conservation, Film and Media, and the DAN School of Drama and Music.
The last remaining member of the Fine Arts DSC, Fiona McMillan, ArtSci ‘26, explained in an interview with The Journal that she has some concerns regarding the program’s new form. According to McMillan, while the Fine Arts program has previously been based almost entirely on guided hands-on experience, undisclosed professors have told her that half of the incoming Visual Arts program will instead be based on more theoretical, lecture-based learning.
“When I was applying to different art schools, what drew me to Queen’s so much is that nothing was theoretical,” McMillan said. “I wasn’t going to be spending any time talking about making art […], I was just going to actually do it. […] And I really love that, because I think it is the only way to hone your craft if you want to be a fine artist.”
Queen’s confirmed that the new program will be rooted in a balance of theory and practice.
“The new Visual Arts program aims to prepare the next generation of artists with both the conceptual foundation and the hands-on experience necessary to thrive in their field,” the University wrote.
Despite two years having passed since the initial suspension, McMillan remains upset with the way it was handled by the University. She claims that, despite the University knowing they would be shutting the program down in October, they didn’t formally inform applicants until the end of the school year, thereby allowing applicants to spend time and money applying for a nonexistent program.
“I remember the process of making a portfolio, and it was absolutely draining and exhausting,” McMillan said. “I specifically remember Queen’s had certain long-answer questions that other schools didn’t have. […] That still makes me so angry, the fact that people applied to this program, made portfolios and were waiting on acceptance letters, and got an email not to say they didn’t get in, but that they were actually never going to be able to get in because the program doesn’t exist.”
Despite specific questioning from The Journal, the University did not comment on the validity of this timeline.
Regarding the 2023 suspension, McMillan also claims that undisclosed professors have suggested to her one of the more discrete reasons for suspending admissions was to avoid an inspection of Ontario Hall—the Fine Arts building.
According to McMillan, it was a failed inspection of Ontario Hall that resulted in the program having once been shut down in 2011. She says that another inspection was coming up in 2023, so the University preemptively shut down the program to avoid failing again.
“They were worried about optics,” McMillan said. “They didn’t want to get another article published saying they didn’t do anything for 10 years. So they said, okay, we’re going to suspend [admissions] first, beat you to the punch, and then you can’t say we failed this test, because we never even did the test.”
In response to this allegation, the University told The Journal that there were never any building academic inspections. They claim that part of the academic review process does involve a review of the teaching space, but the teaching space is different than the physical building.
According to the University, the new program’s development is independent of any specific physical location, although the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will be exploring the creation of specialized studio facilities.
Corrections
A previous version of this story incorrectly suggested that several students raised concerns when, in fact, only one student did. The article has since been corrected to reflect the changes.
Incorrect information appeared in the Nov. 14 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
Bachelor Fine Arts, Visual art, visual arts
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