SPAO is home to the only 2 year photographic arts diploma in Canada, a unique 6 month artist residency, numerous evening and weekend photography skills classes, and the only gallery in the region dedicated to lens-based art. Established in 2005 as an alternative to photography education, SPAO has seen immense growth and operates more like an artist-run-centre. In 2016 moved to a new purpose-built building complete with the most well-appointed darkroom in the region, lighting studio, digital media lab, and the wheelchair accessible SPAO Centre Gallery. SPAO works hard to cultivate a community of distinct artistic vision, critical dialogue and technical expertise in the photographic arts through exhibition, partnerships and education.
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- Installation view of The SPAO Centre Gallery’s 2019 exhibition Summer Camp
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- Free public panel discussion with artist Alma Haser, curator Anne Thomas and critic John Paul Kleiner
