VanArts

What VanArts does

VanArts (legal name Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) is a privately held career-training institution founded in 1995 by Academy Award-winning animator Lee Mishkin, headquartered at 333 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver, BC. The school delivers nine one-year full-time diploma programs spanning 2D/3D Character Animation, Visual Effects for Film & TV, Game Art & Design, Professional Photography, Acting for Film & Television, Acting Foundations, Art Foundation, and Web Development & Digital Design, plus a catalog of part-time continuing-education courses. Its instructional model centers on working industry professionals serving as faculty, with tools limited to industry-standard third-party software (Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Shake, Photoshop, Lightroom). It claims graduate employment above 90% within six months and has been ranked #2 worldwide by Animation Career Review in 2022.

VanArts generates revenue primarily through tuition for full-time diplomas and part-time courses, supplemented by degree-pathway articulation agreements that enable graduates to transfer credits to partner institutions including Capilano University, Emily Carr University, Centre for Digital Media, Deakin University, Media Design School, and University of Gloucestershire. Distribution runs through direct website enrollment, on-campus "Student for a Day" visits, virtual info sessions, and a dedicated India admissions office. Marketing relies on organic social content (#MadeAtVanArts), an in-house podcast (Make Art Your Life), and event presence at Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH and SPARK FX Festival.

Corporate structure is independent with no disclosed parent company or external shareholders; Alan Phillips serves as President. The institution has executed one merger (the William Davis Centre for Actor's Study, 2008), one program closure (Broadcasting & Online Media, August 2021), and most recently moved into a new campus in June 2022. It holds PTIB and BCEQA regulatory designations in British Columbia plus the EduCanada international education mark.

Name

VanArts

Legal name

Vancouver Institute of Media Arts

Website

https://vanarts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VanArts is a Vancouver-based private career-training school offering one-year diplomas and part-time courses in animation, VFX, game art, photography, acting, and web development for aspiring creative-industry professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts & Media Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAAAB

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYMPADAHAG

Virtual Art Department (VAD) & Environment/Digital Matte Painting

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/VFX & Virtual Production

Keywords

• Animation training
• Visual effects education
• Digital photography program
• Game art diploma
• Performing arts school

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Full-time Diploma Programs: One-year intensive diploma programs in animation, VFX, acting, photography, game art, and web development. Programs prepare students for entry-level positions in creative industries.
2. Part-time Courses: Shorter courses in photography, acting, animation, and business skills for professional development. Examples: Entrepreneurship for Photographers ($295 CAD), Small Strobe Photography ($395 CAD), Acting for Film & TV Level II ($200 CAD).
3. Degree Pathway Programs: Partnerships with universities allowing VanArts graduates to transfer credits and complete degrees, creating additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VanArts is a private visual, media and performing arts career training institution that delivers one-year intensive full-time diploma programs alongside shorter part-time courses. Its curriculum spans 2D/3D character animation, visual effects for film and TV, game art and design, professional photography, acting for film and television, acting foundations, art foundation, and web development and digital design, taught by industry-experienced faculty using studio-standard tools and pipelines.

Product overview

VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) is a visual, media and performing arts school offering specialized diploma programs and part-time courses. The institution provides a portfolio of nine full-time diploma programs covering animation (2D/3D Character Animation), acting (Acting for Film & Television, Acting Foundations), visual arts (Art Foundation), game development (Game Art & Design), photography (Professional Photography), visual effects (Visual Effects for Film & TV), and digital media (Web Development & Digital Design). The institution also offers continuing education through part-time courses and maintains articulation agreements with multiple universities for degree pathway opportunities. A Broadcasting & Online Media program was discontinued in 2021. Founded in 1995, VanArts prepares students for careers in the entertainment and digital media industries with industry-experienced faculty and connections to the Vancouver creative sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2D/3D Character Animation Diploma Program A comprehensive one-year full-time diploma program covering both 2D and 3D character animation techniques, preparing students for careers in the animation industry. Taught by industry-experienced faculty using studio-standard tools.
• Acting for Film & Television Diploma Program A diploma program designed to prepare students for professional acting careers in film and television, originally developed through the William Davis Centre for Actor's Study with notable alumni including Lucy Lawless and Aaron Douglas.
• Acting Foundations Diploma Program A foundational program introducing students to acting techniques and fundamentals for screen performance, delivered under the William Davis Centre at VanArts.
• Art Foundation Diploma Program A foundational art program providing core skills and knowledge for visual arts disciplines, preparing students for entry into specialized creative careers.
• Game Art & Design Diploma Program A diploma program focused on game art and design, training students for careers in the video game industry by replicating live game project studio pipelines.
• Professional Photography Diploma Program A one-year full-time diploma program preparing graduates for entry-level employment as studio, commercial, and product photographers. First digital photography program in North America. Includes a 4-week practicum and access to a fully functional photography studio space and computer lab with Mac workstations.
• Visual Effects for Film & TV Diploma Program A diploma program in visual effects production for film and television, teaching industry-standard tools including Autodesk Maya, Side Effects Houdini, The Foundry Nuke, Apple Shake, and Adobe Photoshop.
• Web Development & Digital Design Diploma Program A diploma program covering web development and digital design skills for careers in digital media, including programming, design thinking, and industry-standard tools.
• Part-Time Courses Continuing education short courses including Intro to Acting, Acting for Film & TV Levels I-III, Audition workshops, Digital Photography 101, Intro to Lightroom, Small Strobe Photography, Entrepreneurship for Photographers, Video Production, Intro to Maya (online), Intro to 2D Animation with Harmony (online), Intro to 3D Animation (online), and Summer courses. Prices range from $200-$395 CAD.
• Diploma & Degree Pathway Programs Articulation agreements allowing VanArts diploma graduates to transfer credits to pursue bachelor's degrees at partner institutions including Capilano University, BCIT, Centre for Digital Media, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Deakin University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Media Design School, University of Gloucestershire, University of the Fraser Valley, Full Sail University, and Woodbury University.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of graduates working in their chosen field within 6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Side Effects SoftwarecoreTechnology or Integration · 17 March 2009Incorporation of Houdini professional training into VFX curriculum alongside Maya, Shake and Photoshop. Partnership provides students with industry-standard procedural animation and effects tools.
• Capilano UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree pathway partnership allowing VanArts Acting for Film & Television graduates to transfer up to 42.5 credits and complete CapU's Acting for Stage and Screen diploma in two years instead of three.
• Centre for Digital MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree pathway partnership for further education opportunities in digital media
• Emily Carr University of Art + DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree pathway partnership allowing VanArts graduates to continue their education toward university degrees
• Deakin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational degree pathway partnership for VanArts graduates seeking overseas education
• Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational degree pathway partnership
• Media Design SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational degree pathway partnership with New Zealand institution
• University of GloucestershireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational degree pathway partnership with UK university
• Woodbury UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational degree pathway partnership with US university
• BCITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Creative Multimedia Group (Dilsukhnagar Arena)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced placement partnership - Creative Multimedia graduates may receive advanced placement into term 3 of VanArts 3D Animation with 50% tuition discount upon meeting requirements
• Wiztoonz Academy of Media and DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced placement partnership - Wiztoonz graduates may receive advanced placement into term 2 of VanArts programs with 25% tuition discount for 2D Animation, VFX, and Web Development
• William Davis Centre for Actor's StudycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1989 by William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man in X-FILES), joined VanArts in 2008. Provides quality actor training with notable alumni including Lucy Lawless, Aaron Douglas.
• Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner with Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH for SPARK FX Festival and ongoing industry collaboration

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Centre for Digital Media: Vancouver-based digital media school already partnered with VanArts for degree pathways. Serves overlapping student segments in VFX, game design, and interactive media within the same Vancouver market.
• Ringling College of Art and Design: Florida-based art college renowned for its Computer Animation and Game Art programs. Competes with VanArts for top animation and game art talent and for placement at major US studios.
• Sheridan College: Canadian college consistently ranked as one of the top animation programs in the world. Competes with VanArts for top animation students across Canada and internationally and shares the same studio-placement outcome focus.
• Full Sail University: Florida-based private university offering degree programs in animation, game design, film, and VFX. Listed as a VanArts degree-pathway partner and competes globally for the same international creative-arts students.
• Gnomon School of Visual Effects: Hollywood-based specialist school focused on VFX, animation, and digital production. Competes directly with VanArts for students seeking intensive, industry-aligned VFX and animation training taught by working professionals.
• Think Tank Training Centre: Canadian VFX and animation training school with campuses in Vancouver and Toronto. Directly competes with VanArts in VFX and 3D animation curriculum with a similar industry-instructor model.
• Vancouver Film School: Vancouver-based private creative arts school offering diploma programs in film, animation, VFX, game design, and acting. Directly competes with VanArts for the same Vancouver creative-arts student base and major-studio placement pipelines.
• Seneca College Animation Arts Centre: Toronto-based Canadian college offering animation, VFX, and game arts programs. Competes with VanArts for Canadian animation students and shares the same studio-placement focus.
• SAE Institute: Global creative media education provider with campuses in animation, game development, and film. Overlaps with VanArts' game art, web development, and animation programs and competes for international students.
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design: Vancouver-based art and design university already partnered with VanArts for degree pathways. Overlaps with VanArts on animation, photography, and design students within the same Vancouver market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vanarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vanarts/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/vancouver.institute.of.media.arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/van.arts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-institute-of-media-arts

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VanArts