A-School: Professional Development for Artists
A-School is a space where creatives in the Central Island Region can learn skills and meet other artists to level-up their practice. The program series includes facilitated sessions led by professionals in the arts including working artists, curators, art educators, arts programmers, exhibition designers, arts administrators, grant writers, and more. A-School aims to provide professional development training workshops to help artists grow and nourish their practice.
A-School allows artists to connect with other artists, showcase, share and see new work by other creatives and receive feedback and direction. A School fills a critical gap in traditional models for artist training, providing a variety of access points and means of support for artists working at all levels.
The 2024-25 A-School Season is HERE!
CV/Arts A-School Program will run eight sessions in 2024-25 starting in September 2024 and running through May 2025. There will be no A-School session in December and the program will break for the summer months of June, July and August. All sessions will happen on the fourth Thursday of the month during the evenings from 6:30 – 8:30PM unless otherwise noted. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. All Crit Club sessions require registration online and a $15 fee to save your spot. Fees cover the costs of facilitation, rental and food. Social events require a $5.00 fee.
Session 1: Back to A-School Social | September 26 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | Scott’s Studio
Welcome Back to A-School! Join us for a casual meet-up to talk with other local artists at different levels and share your thoughts with the team about what you would like to learn this year. This session will be held at Scott Bertram’s studio in Comox (1556 Dogwood Avenue) from 6:30 -8:30PM.
Session 2: Crit Club | October 24, 2024 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 3: Crit Club | November 28, 2024 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 4: Crit Club | January 23, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 5: Crit Club | February 27, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 6: Crit Club | March 27, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 7: Crit Club | April 24, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | 580 Duncan Ave
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
Session 8: Year Wrap-Up & Pre-Studio Tour Social | May 22, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30PM | TBD
Crit Club is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.
A-School Lead Facilitator: Scott Bertram
Scott Bertram is a professional practicing artist and educator based in the Comox Valley. His artistic practice explores improvisation, finding meaning within unintended stimuli, and playing with the dynamics of perception. He has a BFA from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and an MFA from NSCAD University. He was a semi-finalist in the 12th RBC Canadian Painting Competition and has received many other awards including funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. His paintings have been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Canada as well as in the USA, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Scott currently teaches painting at North Island College.
Through his own lived experience, Scott has witnessed the gaps in traditional art school training, the lack of supports for emerging artists fresh out of art school and the need for a community of peer artists to relate to and bounce ideas off. Scott is A-School’s lead facilitator.