Save Algonquin College's Illustration & Concept Art Program
The Issue
We are asking Algonquin College to reconsider the proposed suspension of Illustration & Concept Art and recognize its role in technology-integrated creative education, entrepreneurship, and Canadian intellectual property creation.
Algonquin College has announced that Illustration & Concept Art has been included in a list of programs recommended for suspension beginning with the Fall 2026 intake.
While no final decision has been made, this recommendation puts one of Ottawa’s only Illustration & Concept Art programs at risk.
Illustration and concept art sit at the very beginning of the creative process. Books, films, games, interactive media, and original brands all begin as visual ideas. Without illustrators and concept artists, these industries cannot exist.
Illustration & Concept Art goes beyond traditional media training. Students learn how to develop original intellectual property, build visual brands, and create tangible, ownable work. The program operates at the intersection of art and technology, integrating digital tools, immersive environments, and emerging technologies as part of a STEAM-aligned approach to creative problem-solving and innovation.
This program provides an accessible and specialized pathway for future students who want to pursue visual storytelling, concept development, and creative entrepreneurship without leaving Ottawa. Its instructors bring extensive real-world experience from major studios, brands, and creative industries, ensuring students are learning skills that are current and relevant.
At a time when Canadian innovation, cultural production, and ownership of ideas matter more than ever, losing Illustration & Concept Art would weaken the local and national creative ecosystem.
By signing this petition, you are asking Algonquin College to reconsider this recommendation and to evaluate Illustration & Concept Art based on its long-term value, future relevance, and role in innovation and intellectual property development.
Illustration & Concept Art is not a legacy program. It is a future-facing one.
The Issue
We are asking Algonquin College to reconsider the proposed suspension of Illustration & Concept Art and recognize its role in technology-integrated creative education, entrepreneurship, and Canadian intellectual property creation.
Algonquin College has announced that Illustration & Concept Art has been included in a list of programs recommended for suspension beginning with the Fall 2026 intake.
While no final decision has been made, this recommendation puts one of Ottawa’s only Illustration & Concept Art programs at risk.
Illustration and concept art sit at the very beginning of the creative process. Books, films, games, interactive media, and original brands all begin as visual ideas. Without illustrators and concept artists, these industries cannot exist.
Illustration & Concept Art goes beyond traditional media training. Students learn how to develop original intellectual property, build visual brands, and create tangible, ownable work. The program operates at the intersection of art and technology, integrating digital tools, immersive environments, and emerging technologies as part of a STEAM-aligned approach to creative problem-solving and innovation.
This program provides an accessible and specialized pathway for future students who want to pursue visual storytelling, concept development, and creative entrepreneurship without leaving Ottawa. Its instructors bring extensive real-world experience from major studios, brands, and creative industries, ensuring students are learning skills that are current and relevant.
At a time when Canadian innovation, cultural production, and ownership of ideas matter more than ever, losing Illustration & Concept Art would weaken the local and national creative ecosystem.
By signing this petition, you are asking Algonquin College to reconsider this recommendation and to evaluate Illustration & Concept Art based on its long-term value, future relevance, and role in innovation and intellectual property development.
Illustration & Concept Art is not a legacy program. It is a future-facing one.
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Petition created on January 24, 2026