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Specialist High Skills Major

​​​​​​​​​Specialist High Skills Major: Arts & Culture Sector

The City of Brampton's Cultural Services Division is pleased to offer services such as Arts & Culture certification workshops and experiential learning activities as a pilot in the 2025/26 school year.

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized high school program that allows students to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and focus their learning on a specific economic sector at the same time. Students develop skills for their future careers, graduate high school with industry certifications and training, and earn an SHSM seal on their high school diploma.

About Specialist High Skills Major

The SHSM-Arts and Culture sector stream enables students to build a foundation of industry-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Learn more About Arts & Culture specialization in SHSM

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Sector - Recognized Certifications & Training Courses

Work with profession​al actors, vocalists, or directors to gain in-depth skill development in the chosen art form. This will be a masterclass for those students with previous experience and will be a valuable learning experience if you have a multi-disciplinary group including students in specializing in other art forms.

Please note, this certification will involve some light physical activities. Students will be sitting, standing, and moving throughout the room. They may work at times with partners or in small groups.

  • Required equipment: Comfortable clothing, pen & paper
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fees: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 s​tudents: $700 flat ​rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $10/student
  • Hours required: 3
  • ​Location: Snelgrove Community Centre

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of art conservation, including techniques and best practices aimed at maintaining the integrity of visual art pieces over time, assessing and treating art pieces, and learning about the specialized tools and methods conservators use to stabilize, repair, and prevent further damage. Previous experience is not required.

Please note, this certification will involve some light hands-on physical activities. Students will be both sitting and standing, and handling art works.​

  • Required equipment: work clothing, pen & paper
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $10/student
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrove Commun​ity Centre

This course delves into the art of vocal accompaniment and will be of interest both to instrumentalists and vocalists looking to enhance their performance skills and teamwork. This session covers essential techniques in vocal confidence, stage presence, and the supportive role of accompaniment. Participants ​will learn practical strategies for overcoming performance anxiety, interpreting lyrics, and dynamically expressing through both voice and piano. A combined practice session allows participants to apply these skills in pairs, with opportunities for feedback and discussion. Students receive a comprehensive foundation in confident, collaborative music performance.

Please note, this certification will involve some light physical activities. Students will be both sitting and standing.

  • Required equipment: comfortable clothing, pen & paper
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee:Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $10/student​
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrove Community​ Centre

This workshop will introduce students to the basics of live sound production, mic techniques, and more, offering industry insight to strengthen and inspire a sound engineering community that is reflective of the culturally diverse performance scene in Brampton. In this course, students will learn to set​ up and take down small-scale sound systems suitable for the average performance space while practicing live sound mixing techniques. Students will leave prepared to host events with their own sound setups and/or have the knowledge to advocate for themselves as performers & vocalists in other venues.

Please note, this certification will involve some light physical activities. Students will be standing for extended periods, and handling equipment.

  • Required equipment: Comfortable clothing, pen & paper
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $10/stu​dent
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrov​e Community Centre

This course prepares actors for theatre and film to confidently prepare for auditions in film and theatre. Content includes monologue selection and rehearsal, what to expect before, during, and after the audition, and industry insights from an industry professional instructor sharing their experience. ​Previous experience auditioning is not required.

Please note, this certification will involve some light physical activities. Students will be both sitting and standing, and moving throughout the room.

  • Required equipment: comfortable clothing, pen & paper, prepared monologues are optional (selections will be provided)
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $1​0/student
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrove Commun​ity Centre

Students learn strategies for building an arts and​ culture portfolio that showcases their work, research, and thinking. With a specialization in visual arts, this course will include common portfolio elements across other art forms as well. Students will make connections to various arts practices and will be shown port​folio examples, and will also learn to write effective artist bios and artist statements. Whether the portfolio is digital or physical, students will learn to enhance their professionalism and present themselves confidently, from post-secondary entrance interviews to pitching their creative or artistic projects to sponsors, funders, or employers.

Please note, this certification will involve mainly sitting, with some time spent in icebreakers, moving throughout the room.

  • Required equipment: pen & paper
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional $1​0/student
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrove Community Centre
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This training prepares students for success in writing arts & culture proposals and grants. They will learn common elements including understanding program guidelines, and achieving clarity with project description, budget, artistic examples, and support letters. Multiple art forms will be covered, including specifications for each. An overview of local, provincial, and national arts funders will prepare students to seek support for their future arts projects. Students will review and critique examples of real-life arts & culture grant proposals.

Please note, this certification will involve mainly sitting, with some time spent in icebreakers, moving throughout the room.

  • Required equipment: pen & paper. We will provide sample proposals for students to read in advance.
  • Number of students per group: minimum 10, maximum 25
  • Fee: Up to 20 students: $600 flat rate. 21 to 25 students: $700 flat rate.
  • Lunch: Lunch may be provided for an additional ​$10/student
  • Hours required: 3
  • Location: Snelgrove Community C​entre

Accessibility

We are committed to offering an accessible and comfortable experience for all. Please contact us at arts.culture@brampton.ca to discuss any accommodations or modifications that we can provide.

Program Schedule

This schedule is a sample and can be modified to accommodate your arrival and departure times.

  • 09:45 AM: Arrival
  • 10:00 AM: Session begins
  • 11:30 AM: Lunch
  • 12:00 PM: Session continues
  • 01:30 PM: Wrap-up and departure

All Schools Can Participate

The program is designed for secondary schools offering the SHSM Art and Culture sector program. However, these workshops may also be booked by all schools wishing to augment their arts programming. Programming may be modified for grades 7 to 8 in addition to secondary levels.

Locations

Snelgrove Community Centre (11692 Hurontario St, Brampton, ON L7A 1R2) is the main location for these programs.

For schools in Brampton, we may be able to bring the certification training workshop to you. Please contact us to discuss options.

Rates

Please see each program for the rate. Rates are offered as flat fees, regardless of group size.

The fee for groups of up to 20 students is $600 (equivalent to $30/person), and the fee for groups of up to 25 students is $700 (equivalent to $28/person).

Upon request, lunch may be provided at an additional fee of $10/student.

How to Register

Teachers and/or school staff interested in the program can email arts.culture@brampton.ca with their request.

Sessions will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis according to the dates available.

Additional Resources

For additional City of Brampton programming for Specialist High Skills Majors in all sectors, please see Recreation's offerings at www.brampton.ca/SHSM.

Learn More​​​​

Contact Cultural Services

Brampton City Hall
2 Wellington St W
Brampton, ON
L6Y 4R2

Email Cultural Services