Creative School

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The Creative School
The Creative School logo.jpg
The Creative School logo
Former name
Faculty of Communication and Design (1984–2021)
Type Faculty
Established1984 (1984)
Parent institution
 Toronto Metropolitan University
Dean Natalie Alvarez
Studentsapprox. 5,500
Location
Toronto
,
Ontario
,
Canada

43°39′31″N79°22′37″W / 43.65861°N 79.37694°W / 43.65861; -79.37694
Website torontomu.ca/the-creative-school
The Creative School TMU logo.svg
Creative School

The Creative School is the communications and design faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Contents

Founded in 1984 as the Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD), it re-branded to The Creative School in 2021. Its departments offer 15 undergraduate programs and 11 graduate programs, and it is based in the Rogers Communications Centre.

History

The first department in The Creative School was the Ryerson Theatre School (RTS), now known as the School of Performance. Founded in 1971, it was established in response to growth in the Canadian Theatre Industry and modelled after London's Central School of Speech and Drama. The Ryerson Theatre School then incorporated the Canadian College of Dance, adding dance training to its offered programs. [1] The Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) was established in 1984, and became one of the few North American institutions offering full-time professional training in acting, dance, and technical production.

Over the decades, The faculty's scope grew to include a range of programs in journalism, media, communication, design. [2] In 2019, the Innovation Studio was created as a collaborative entrepreneurial hub, following the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) launched by former TMU president Sheldon Levy. [3] On August 16, 2021, the faculty changed its name from the Faculty of Communication and Design to The Creative School, a decision met with some criticism from students. [4] [5] The Creative School acquired the TMU Theatre in 2024, which had previously been operated by the University Business Services, and re-branded it as the Chrysalis. [6]

Academics

Undergraduate programs at The Creative School include acting, creative industries, dance, fashion, film, graphic communications management, interior design, journalism, media productions, new media, performance design and production, photography media arts, professional communication, music, and sport media. [7]

Since 2024, the faculty has offered The Creative School Pro, a program for continuing skill development in creative industries delivered virtually. Topics have included an introduction to Unreal Engine visual effects and CASO (Computer Animation Studios of Ontario) production management. [3]

Departments and schools

The Creative School consists of several departments and schools. [7] They include:

References

  1. ↑ "A Brief History". Toronto Metropolitan University. Performance. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  2. ↑ Benchetrit, Jenna (November 21, 2023). "As journalism programs across Canada face low enrolment, schools hit pause to modernize". CBC News.
  3. 1 2 "How The Creative School is transforming education for an uncertain future". Toronto Life. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ Gribilas, Thea (July 11, 2021). "FCAD to rebrand as 'The Creative School'". The Eyeopener.
  5. ↑ Gribilas, Thea (August 24, 2021). "'Creative School' students share distaste for new faculty name". The Eyeopener.
  6. ↑ Staropoli, Joëlle (October 12, 2024). "Rebranded, but will Access Improve for the new Chrysalis theatre?". On The Record.
  7. 1 2 "Undergraduate Programs Listed Alphabetically". Toronto Metropolitan University. The Creative School. Retrieved November 21, 2025.

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