Michael Ngo (left), along with friends Jonathan Manzo and Frannie Wu, launched the website ArtSchoolReviews.ca to help prospective students determine which of the many schools and programs in the city are best for them.

Credit: Doug Shanks

EDUCATION: The art of preparation

The recession and its attendant “How will you feed yourself?” cries from Mom and Dad can blanket even the most dedicated young artist in self-doubt. But for those determined to attend an art school, the current state of the economy can, out of necessity, helpfully force prospective students to rethink and sharpen their educational choices so they’re getting the most bang for their buck.

Banking on a longstanding desire to share the untapped wisdom of Vancouver art-school alumni with would-be applicants, Michael Ngo, a 23-year-old Vancouver Film School (VFS) grad and SFU School of Interactive Arts + Technology student, has created a website that he hopes will serve as a centralizing hub for aspiring art students seeking guidance.

“I attended VFS without much research, as information on other schools was difficult to come by,” Ngo recalls. “I wish I’d known the strengths and weaknesses of each program and the success rates of these programs before attending. I wish I’d known the percentage of alumni that were able to find work in a related field after graduation. Many schools exaggerate these numbers to attract more students.”

Ngo rounded up two friends — Frannie Wu, a 23-year-old SFU business administration grad; and Jonathan Manzo, a 24-year-old UBC computer science student — to help run the site. Six months after its launch, ArtSchoolReviews.ca has now received almost 100 school reviews from contributors across the city. “There are three main reasons for the site, the first of which is to give students and alumni a venue to voice their opinions — good or bad,” says Wu. “The second is to provide first-hand information about these schools to aspiring students. And lastly, we wish to hold the schools accountable to their students by providing them with honest student feedback that can be used to improve the programs.”

One of the major lessons Ngo learned — and learned the hard way — is the necessity of taking a proactive approach to education. “When I graduated, I realized VFS was just a means — it was a way to become a designer, animator, or director — but it was in no way a guarantee,” he says. “I just hope [the website] can help aspiring students realize this even before stepping onto campus. Your education shouldn’t be passive. You need to make things happen for yourself.”

Despite skeptics who may argue that art school is too risky a path to take in this economy, Wu contends that school is likely the best choice for someone looking to eventually make a living in a creative field. “Given the state of the economy, one could argue that art-school education is more important than ever,” she says. “This is the time for artists to really develop their capabilities and to acquire skills that will set them apart from the competition.”

At this point, neither Ngo nor his friends have worked out concrete career plans, as they’re all currently finalizing their degrees, but they hope their website will help prospective students think twice about their plan of action. “I’m already blown away by how large ArtSchoolReviews.ca has become,” says Wu. “There are still many unheard stories to be told, discussions to be had, and artists to be made.”