Senior Theatre & Visual Arts

From grade 8, visual arts courses focus on developing students’ artistic voice, technical skills, conceptual approaches to their work, and exposure to a variety of artistic techniques.

In grades 11 and 12, students can specialize in design electives such as Drafting 11 and 12. Our architecture courses are designed to give students hands-on practice in model building, hand drafting and computer software. AP Studio Art Drawing 12 and Art Careers 12 are offered to students who are considering pursuing an undergraduate degree in visual arts and design; these courses further develop a student’s artistic voice and help them create a portfolio of their work for submission to postsecondary institutions.

Our alumni have studied fashion design, industrial design and architecture at renowned institutions such as Parson’s, Parson’s Paris, University of Arts London, Rhode Island School of Design, Emily Carr, OCAD and SCI-arc.

Courses

• Visual Arts 8, 9, 10
• Art Foundations 11, 12
• Studio Arts 11
• Drawing and Painting
• Architecture and Habitat Design 12
• Art Careers 12
• AP Studio Art Drawing 12 

Student Showcases

• The Visual Arts Celebration during Arts Week in April is an opportunity for students to showcase their art to family and friends. Arts Week also features expert-led workshops in various fields.  
• The annual ISABC Art Show is a collaboration among independent schools in Vancouver and showcases senior students' artwork. 
• Founded in 1999, our Student Gallery highlights select K-12 artwork every year. One student's artwork from each grade is framed and represents the artistic accomplishments of their grade level.  

Our theatre arts program strengthens students' social awareness and knowledge, presentation skills, fluency of speech, confidence and self expression. In grades 8 and 9 electives, students study scene work, script writing, mime, improvisation, poetry and prose presentation, physical and vocal expression, and learning to be part of an ensemble. As students progress through the dramatic forms of expression, greater emphasis is on the individual's development as a creator, performer, producer and critic. Students in Theatre 11/12 perform in one-act plays and school performances throughout the year, focusing on mastery of acting techniques. 

Courses 

• Dramatic Arts 8 
• Drama 9, 10 
• Theatre Company 11/12 

Annual Theatre Production 
Every year, the senior drama department performs a full-scale theatre production, alternating between dramatic plays and musicals, at the Norman Rothstein Theatre. The theatre production is a highlight of the year for cast and crew, who start rehearsals in early fall. In 2023, Theatre 10-12 performed Shrek! The Musical; in 2024, students will perform Alice in Wonderland. 

Additional Performance Opportunities
Each year students in grades 9 to 12 perform at the Vancouver Speech and Drama Festival in categories such as monologue, poem, prose, scene and speech.