November 21, 2024

Throughout the last year, the Peter Drucker Fund for Excellence and Innovation has provided each faculty discipline or area of study to use toward innovative projects. The project proposals are a testament to Bennington’s values and approach. Visual Arts faculty chose to use a small portion of the funds to send twelve advanced animation students to the Ottawa International Animation Festival in September 2024, accompanied by faculty member Sue Rees and Technical Instructor in Video and Design/Animation John Crowe. Students attended cutting-edge animation workshops, interactive talks, and screenings. The trip provided access to the medium’s foremost leaders and ideas.

Students shared their observations. 

“The school trip to Ottawa International Animation Festival was by far the most exciting learning experience one could have hoped for. From traveling with Sue Rees and John Crowe to getting to watch wonderful animations by famous artists, it was a memorable trip.”

“I was able to go to a couple of the animation showings, and it was a heartwarming amount of people coming together around a shared interest, around the art of animation. I’ve never been in a room so full of people who share the same passion for animation as me.”

“One of the key takeaways for me was observing how artists present themselves and their work. I learned a lot about developing an overall artistic persona. I also realized how crucial sound design is in animation; every film, regardless of style, had an amazing soundscape. I also noticed that being somewhat messy with edits is acceptable as long as it complements the story being told.”

“While the focus of the trip was the festival, I also enjoyed exploring Ottawa. The city had a nice, relaxed atmosphere, and it was great to experience a different environment.” 

“I liked the structure of our trip, where we would get together to watch specific premieres and showcases but were also allowed to go around and look at stuff that appealed to us individually. And discussing the animations and art works with everyone fresh out of the theater was better than most critiques in class.”

“Ottawa’s Backpackers Inn turned out to be a surprisingly nice place to stay. The location was fantastic, and I liked the freedom of walking back and forth between the festival and the hostel. As for the festival itself, it was absolutely amazing, offering an inspiring experience.”

“If and, hopefully, when the College plans another similar trip, I hope that the same faculty, Sue and John, get to take us, as they were one of the best parts of this trip.”