Jewellery Art & Design Program, Vancouver Community College

Study Jewellery Making in Vancouver!

Vancouver Community College’s Jewellery Art & Design 2-year diploma program offers a unique experience for those aiming to enter the jewellery profession, or start their own businesses as independent artisans. Founded in 1988, the program provides a solid foundation of technical skills, augmented by classes in Art History, Design, Gemmology, Drawing, Digital Design, and Business Management.

Application Deadline for September 2020: March 15, 2020.
Tuition is $6563.00 for the full two years, plus other fees.

For full program information click here, or call 604-877-7100, ext. 8571.
Info sessions Jan. 21, Feb. 11, and March 10. To join an info session electronically, or for a video tour of the department, email: kjones@vcc.ca.

What you will learn:

• Jewellery fabrication (piercing, soldering, doming, texturing, finishing, riveting)
• Traditional goldsmithing techniques
• Lost wax casting
• Stone setting
• Metal forging
• Jewellery repair
• Machinery, tools, safety
• Metallurgy and alloys
• Lapidary techniques (cutting, polishing)
• Enamelling
• Gemstone identification and testing
• Gemstone cuts, care, and cleaning
• Gemstone marketing, buying, and pricing
• Diamond identification and grading
• International diamond market
• Visual awareness
• Conceptual design
• Illustration and visual representation
• Technical drawing
• Perspective drawing
• 3D design software
• History of art, ornament, and costume
• Art in contemporary society
• Individuality and artistic expression
• Meanings of jewellery
• Business management and entrepreneurship
• Jewellery-related laws and regulations
• Promotion, advertising, ethics
• Production methods and time management

What to expect:

• Two years of full-time study
• Hours 8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday
• 70 per cent of time dedicated to hands-on, technical training
• Industry-experienced instructors
• Small cohorts (maximum 20) go through the full two years together
• Personalized learning
• Critiques
• Lectures
• Demonstrations
• Group projects
• Research projects
• Guest presentations
• Public showcases and exhibitions
• Field trips
• Fully equipped workshops
• Networking with industry professionals
• Award and scholarship opportunities
• Opportunity to transfer to jewellery degree programs at AUA (Calgary), or NSCAD University (Halifax)
• Opportunity to transfer to second-year Gemmology certificate and degree programs at Birmingham University, UK

Photo credits:
Students working in Workshop: Claudette Carracedo
Jewellery by Carissa Heartt: Dominique Bréchault
Jewellery by Natalia Badulescu: Tanya King

Accessibility: Accessible.

Social Media:
Instagram: @vccjewellery Featured artists: @caressahearttjewellery, @lescu.design
Facebook: @vccjewelleryartanddesign, Featured artists: @caressaheartt
Twitter: @myvcc