A Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Emerging Cinema and Media Arts
These milestones demonstrate NSCAD University's research interest and institutional commitment particular to the CineFlux Research Centre:
Launched in 2002, NSCAD University's Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film) allows students the opportunity to explore approaches and issues in the practice, theory, history and critical analysis of film production and film art while preparing for the complex industry of filmmaking.
In 2003 Alliance Atlantis donated the historic Academy Building, dedicated to ensuring a viable physical space in which to house the first degree-granting film school east of Montreal. Encompassing a total area of 25,000 square feet with a 3,000 square foot sound stage, the facility will be developed over time to house CineFlux in addition to teaching, studio, and technical spaces.
Supported by an infrastructure grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in 2004 with matching funds from NSRIT, NSCAD has been able to provide infrastructure support for the purchase of equipment for film and film studies and to establish a screening room facility.
In 2004, NSCAD was awarded a Canada Research Chair and appointed Dr. Darrell Varga as Canada Research Chair in Contemporary Film and Media Studies in the Division of Historical and Critical Studies.
In 2004, augmenting an already substantial collection, through the Canada Council Art Bank Donation Program, NSCAD University also received 164 films and videos by artists and filmmakers across Canada. This donation, and the donation of the Atlantic Region National Film Board Collection of 16 mm films (acquired in 2000-02), all recognize NSCAD's long history of involvement in the production of, and critical scholarship in, film and video. (In addition, the NSCAD Visual Resources Collection holds approximately 140,000 slides, more than 1,300 VHS tapes and DVD's, and a unique collection of audio tapes of music, spoken word, experimental sound works and lectures.)
In 2004 NSCAD partnered with the Atlantic Filmmakers' Coop in opening a new film animation facility in the Academy Building, housing the only 35 mm film capable Oxberry Master Animation camera in the region, as well as other animation and optical printing equipment.
In March of 2006, NSCAD graduate students had the unique opportunity to share their work and ideas with colleagues from across Canada at the Film Studies Association of Canada's 8th Annual Graduate Colloquium, hosting over thirty top graduate students and scholars in the field.
Critical to the context for CineFlux, once implemented, the new graduate program in Film (Master of Film), will offer many research opportunities for faculty and graduate students and, at the same time, promote research and partnerships with other universities, industry, and community organizations, embracing cross-disciplinary research clusters that encourage an experimental exchange of expertise.
In early 2008, CineFlux was awarded an Aid to Small Universities Grant by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This award provides seed funding for new faculty research, opportunities for graduate student researchers, allows CineFlux to host a national symposium on emerging cinema and media arts, and supports dissemination of research results.