Image by SPAO alum and Karsh award laureate Christine Fitzgerald

2025 Marks 20 Years of SPAO
Join Us During Our Anniversary Year!

In 2025, SPAO will celebrate its 20th anniversary, marking two decades as one of Canada’s foremost photographic arts centers. Since its founding in 2005, SPAO has been a hub for photographic education, fostering both emerging and established artists. Join the SPAO community during this monumental time.

Image by SPAO alum Shaelynn Tredenick

Accepting Applications: 2025 Winter-Start Residency

SPAO is now accepting applications for the Winter-Start Residency, running from January 2025 to June 2025.

The SPAO Artist Residency offers photo-based artists the opportunity to advance their career at one of Canada’s foremost photographic art centres.

During this 6-month artist residency, individuals are afforded the time and environment needed to research, experiment, and produce a body of work as a professional artist. Upon completion, artists are offered the paid opportunity to exhibit in the SPAO Centre Gallery.

The residency has been designed for artists who have completed formal training in visual arts and/or lens-based media and are ready to intensely focus on an aspect of their practice while utilizing our facility and directed mentorship. Learn more + apply.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2024, or until spots are filled

Image by SPAO alum Alex Finlay

Accepting Applications for Early Acceptance: Photographic Arts & Production Diploma Program (Fall 2025)

SPAO’s College Diploma Program is the only one of its kind in Canada and is the perfect opportunity for artists wishing to further invest in their art practice.

Nurture Your Artistic Vision: Through intensive, hands-on learning and small class sizes, artists can hone their unique style and approach to photography.

A Community-Oriented and Collaborative Environment: SPAO’s program fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Located in the nation’s capital, SPAO provides artists access to national arts institutions, culture leaders, and curators, offering invaluable industry insights and networking opportunities.

Professional Launchpad: Graduates of the program debut their completed body of work in an exhibition at the SPAO Centre Gallery. This exhibition not only showcases the evolution of the graduate’s artistic practice but also serves as a professional launchpad for their careers as photo-based artists.

Not Sure if the Program is Right For You? Learn more about the Photographic Arts and Production College Diploma Program. Apply for a portfolio review.

Early Acceptance Application Deadline: Monday, December 2, 11:59pm EST

Image by SPAO alum Blair Smith

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For more information, please contact us:

SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre
77 Pamilla Street
Ottawa, ON K1S 3K7
613 562 3824
info@spao.ca

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