The art school that we know today as ACAD started over eighty years ago as the Provincial Institute of Technology and Arts or what is currently known as the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
In 1982 Richard Halliday, and instructor and assistant head, was appointed as department head of the college where he became instrumental in creating an autonomous institution. The school remained as a department of SAIT until 1985. After years of dissatisfaction with SAIT leadership, involvement of the provincial government, and hard work by the student body, autonomy was given to the Alberta College of Art under the jurisdiction of the Alberta Colleges Act (1980).
ACADSA was formed with Suzanne Agopsowicz – one of the key fighters for autonomy – as ACADSA’s first President. In 1995, ACA changed to ACAD to better represent the undergraduate Design, Photography, Fine arts and Craft degrees that the college began granting that year.
ACAD is in the last stages of developing a graduate program with the intention of offering a Masters degree in craft in the next few years.
ACADSA has been a voice for students for over 25 years. With elections happening every year, ACADSA remains dynamic and always fresh with new ideas.
