School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa

SPAO is primarily operated as a full-time vocational college diploma program (the Photographic Arts and Production Program) for which we are a registered Private Career College through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. In service of our primary function SPAO also generates revenue through fundraising as well as other non-vocational educational offerings in photography and the photographic arts which include part-time classes workshops private mentoring free classes for youth and an artist residency. We also distribute bursaries and awards supporting photographic advancement and education. SPAO also operates a visual art gallery as well as various exhibition and lecture partnership programming that is free and open to the public. In 2023 SPAO launched phase 1 of a major public art installation project in collaboration with our local BIA. In 2024 SPAO launched phase 2 of a major public art installation project in collaboration with our local BIA.