The program’s suspension will be a loss felt throughout and beyond London, say current students. The three-year degree program is being cut down to a single-year certificate.
Fanshawe released a list of 40 suspended programs on April 2nd, including Fine Arts. The college is preparing for future deficits amidst a federal cap on student visas. There aren’t any immediate plans to return these programs, and the decisions are final, says the college.
Updated April 8th, 2025: Despite this, current art students have organized a petition in hopes the college will reconsider. Past and current students have also expressed their disappointment and concerns on Instagram through the tag “savefanshawefinearts.”
“This year’s been, I think, hard for the program,” Cecil Klassen says. Klassen is a third-year student finishing up his Fine Arts degree at Fanshawe. A downtown space called Satellite shut down programming back in 2024. There was a struggle to find other spaces to host programming says Klassen.
Klassen is one of many who attend the program from out of London. The only other option for those pursuing a college-level education in art would be Toronto says Klassen.
Many students, including Klassen, mention the program’s affordability helped them pursue art when they might not have otherwise.
“There wasn’t a portfolio. There wasn’t that barrier of you already having to have the skills,” says Klassen.
Fine Arts students are in the process of organizing a petition. If the petition got enough signatures, the college would have to review the decision, says Klassen.
Somethin’ Ain’t Right is an exhibit featuring artwork from graduate students such as Klassen. Also later this month, a juried exhibition will be held by first- and second-year open studio and fine art foundation students.
Suspended programs are still running to allow current students to graduate. However, no new students are being accepted into the programs.
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