New West-based 3D animation, VFX school to close

It's the end of an era for a New West-based school—and the business says the closure is thanks to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CG Masters School of 3D Animation & VFX says it'll be shutting down at the end of this month after struggling to enroll students. The school says the lack of international students was a key factor.

“Despite a surge in demand for 3D artists in BC, ultimately, the effects of COVID-19 on international student enrollment impacted our ability to continue operating the school,” Vickie Boughen, Co-Founder & Campus Director at CG Masters School of 3D Animation & VFX, said in a statement on Monday. 

The school says it initially noticed the decline in international enrollment, and tried to pivot to serving 'a domestic student population.'

"Adjustments to the school’s business model and increased recruitment efforts haven’t been able to increase enrollment to a sustainable level."

CG Masters was first founded in 2012, and it occupies a space on the second floor of New West station, along with many other businesses at The Shops at New West. 

The school says there is a plan in place to help current students through the private training institutions branch of BC's ministry of post-secondary education and future skills. 

CG Masters boasts 28 successful cohorts of students, adding that many are employed in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, New Zealand, and London, having found work in animation and visual effects studios, as well as in product development and games—some have even gone on to be part of Academy Award and Emmy Award winning projects. 

More than 110 students have completed the program.