Faculty and staff

Grace Tsurumaru has been an instructor in the Visual Arts Department at the University of the Fraser Valley since 1995. Whilst she was initially responsible for developing the Photography Programme at UFV, her other instructional areas have included Film Studies and Senior Studio. From 2010 – 2016, she was one of the principle organizers of the BFA Grad Exhibitions and co-chaired the Interpret Festival in 2017, 2018 and 2022. In 2013 Grace helped establish the annual BFA Award for student excellence in the program, and her other responsibilities have included overseeing the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery at the University. Outside of her teaching curriculum, her professional development has taken her overseas to various continents where she has endeavoured to apply her photographic skills documenting diverse cultures. The intrinsic relationship between travel and education has afforded her the opportunity to photograph a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites including Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan, and most recently, the Japanese architecture and gardens at Kyoto in Japan. This past year she was invited to participate in the exhibition, ‘Piers’, at the Legacy Art Gallery in Victoria, BC.

1996    MFA, Concordia University

1993    Fine Arts Diploma, Emily Carr College of Art & Design

1989    Fine Arts Diploma, Kwantlen College

1986    Associate Diploma, Royal Conservatory of Music, Teaching

1985    Fellowship Diploma, Trinity College of Music London

1984    Licentiate Diploma, Trinity College of Music London

1984    Associateship, Performer’s Diploma, Royal Conservatory of Toronto