The Art Institute of Vancouver and The Art Institute of California - San Francisco Announce International Articulation Agreement for Design Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Sept. 29, 2004) - Canadian students interested in working in the burgeoning fields of video game development, animation, graphic design and the digital arts now have a new opportunity to further their education, thanks to an agreement signed between two design schools in British Columbia and California.

The Art Institute of Vancouver and The Art Institute of California - San Francisco today announced an international partnership and articulation agreement allowing students to complete certificate or diploma programs in Vancouver and continue their studies by earning Bachelor of Science degrees in San Francisco.

The agreement acknowledges transfer credits to students who have completed certain courses at the Vancouver school and are interested in applying those courses toward Bachelor of Science programs in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design or Media Arts & Animation at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco.

The agreement benefits Canadian students interested in pursuing advanced design degrees in the United States, while providing a springboard for future collaboration between the schools.

"Both Vancouver and the San Francisco Bay Area are home to some of the most dynamic digital arts, design and game development companies in North America," said Bill Tsatsoulis, president of The Art Institute of Vancouver. "This partnership makes it easier for students to start their programs close to home and ultimately continue on for their bachelor's-level studies in California."

In addition to pursuing the Bachelor of Science degrees in San Francisco, students may take advantage of resources in the school's Career Services Department, have the opportunity to participate in a Portfolio Show when they graduate, learn from guest speakers from the San Francisco industry, apply for design internships at local companies and meet new contacts in California's creative community. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a variety of leading companies in the digital arts and technology, such as Pixar Animation Studios, Industrial Light & Magic, PDI/DreamWorks, Electronic Arts, LucasArts, Sega of America, SONY Computer Entertainment America, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe, Macromedia and others.

Both schools in San Francisco and Vancouver offer career-focused programs designed to train students for entry-level jobs in numerous industries, including game development, animation and graphic design. Media and industry leaders have taken note about the schools' programs, designed with input from industry experts. Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of the world's most widely read magazines covering the field of video games, ranked The Art Institutes system as having one of the "World's Top Five Game Design Degree Programs" (January 2003 issue).

Students may apply for enrolment in classes starting Oct. 4, 2004 (Fall quarter) or January 10, 2005 (Winter quarter) at The Art Institute of Vancouver by calling (604) 298-5400 or (800) 661-1885 or visiting www.aivan.artinstitutes.edu for more details.

The Art Institute of Vancouver, located at 3264 Beta Avenue in Burnaby, BC, currently offers two one-year programs of study leading to certificates and nine two-year programs of study leading to diplomas. Programs include Acting, Animation Art & Design, Digital Media Production, Electronic Music, Event Planning & Promotions Management, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Independent Recording Arts, Interactive Media Design, Professional Recording Arts, Visual & Game Programming and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics. For more information, visit www.aivan.artinstitutes.edu or call (604) 298-5400.

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, located at 1170 Market Street in San Francisco's Civic Center, attracts a diverse mix of students from throughout the Bay Area and the world. The school offers career-focused degree programs in Advertising, Graphic Design, Media Arts & Animation, Game Art & Design, Visual & Game Programming, Interactive Media Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Marketing & Management and Interior Design. For more information, visit www.aicasf.aii.edu or call (415) 865-0198.

Both The Art Institute of Vancouver and The Art Institute of California - San Francisco are part of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 31 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation (www.edmc.com) is among the largest providers of private post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrolment and revenue. Student enrolment exceeded 58,000 as of Fall 2003. EDMC has 67 primary campus locations in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. EDMC's education institutions offer a broad range of academic programs in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts, behavioural sciences, health sciences, education, information technology and business fields. EDMC has provided career-oriented education for 40 years, and its education institutions have more than 150,000 alumni.

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Contact:

Cliff Jones, Director of Public Relations

The Art Institute of Vancouver

Tel. 604-639-5117

Email: cjones@edmc.edu

Contact:

Dan Soine, Director of Public Relations

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco

Tel. 415-276-1030

Email: dsoine@aii.edu