About Us

SPAO is home to the only 2 year photographic arts diploma in Canada, numerous evening and weekend part-time classes in photography, a unique 6 month artist residency, and the only critical and independent gallery in the region dedicated to lens-based art.

We are an independent, charitable, not-for-profit photographic visual arts institution and a registered private career college. Our mandate is to provide an intensive and collaborative learning experience and to enrich the photographic and visual arts culture of Ottawa and beyond. SPAO’s activities include classes and workshops, community collaborations as well as exhibitions and outreach. We aim to offer our community the knowledge, resources, and environment necessary for the advancement of photographic artistry, visual literacy, and personal vision. Our objective is to advance the school’s motto: Vision, Content, Craft. 

SPAO prides itself on small class sizes, individualized hands-on learning, and rare access to a variety of techniques and photographic processes. SPAO draws on traditional, historic and alternative processes alongside and contemporary photographic technologies for both our 2 year Diploma Program and our Part-Time studies stream. Educational opportunities are available to novice and advanced students alike, with an incredibly diverse group of students and community members. We place special emphasis on advancing individual style, on conceptual development, and on the acquisition of knowledge about photographic theory and history.