NSCAD students find inspiration abroad

Sebastian Frye always thought Paris was the place to go to become an artist. It’s the city with the best museums and greatest masterpieces.

The 21-year-old from London, Ont. took four months away from NSCAD University to participate in the school’s student exchange program.

He moved to Paris and studied at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts.

Frye said being in a major art centre allowed him to be himself and freer in his artistic expression.

“Paris felt right. It felt as if I should be there... The atmosphere is liberating. You don’t feel as if you have anything to prove, which is nice.”

NSCAD has exchange programs with 70 universities in 15 countries, including Korea, Ghana and Mexico. Director of Admissions Terry Bailey says Europe is a popular destination because of its rich art history and the abundance of museums and galleries. Studying overseas allows participants to get broader exposure than they would just going as a tourist, he says.

Exchange students get “a taste of the unknown and apply it to their program.”

Rebecca Newlands spent one year on exchange at Beaux-Arts.  Her experience, she wrote in a report, “added a special importance to (her) Fine Arts degree at NSCAD.”

NSCAD was one of the first art schools in North America to offer chances to study abroad as a part of its undergraduate program. NSCAD prides itself on its international reputation.  Having students and staff with global experiences benefits all, Bailey says.

“Education today is very mobile and exchange is a way for (students) to have a range of experience as a part of an undergraduate degree without having to commit to a longer program.”

It’s also more affordable. Frye only had to pay regular NSCAD tuition, as opposed to high fees he would have paid as an international student. Students can also maintain scholarships or student loans while away.

The exchanges develop independence. NSCAD offers some initial support, but most preparation is the student’s responsibility. Frye had to organize his documents, travel and accommodation. 

Frye’s arrangements didn’t fall into place easily. A week before his departure, he still didn’t know if he’d be able to go. He had no place to live and was still waiting for his visa. It was all a part of the experience and he says it “let him find a strength within himself.”

Frye’s relaxed nature helped him settle into the experience. Bailey says the instructors at Beaux-Arts “responded very well” to Frye, who “was probably one of our best-recognized exchange students.”

Frye always wanted to study in Paris and hopes to live there again. Bailey calls the program a “reconnaissance mission” for students – many go back to where they did their exchanges for apprenticeships and graduate programs.

Frye came back to NSCAD this fall seeking new challenges and found a new direction.  Beaux-Arts didn’t have a studio dedicated to drawing, his intended focus, so he took up sculpture.  That’s now his major.

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