Arts Umbrella has opened the doors to its new 50,000-square-foot arts education centre on Granville Island. The new facility expands the centre’s capacity to provide programming and studio space for young people in Metro Vancouver.
Arts Umbrella was founded in 1979 as a community-based organization that opened to 45 students on Granville Island. The initial building design for its new facility was completed in 1995 by award-winning architecture firm Patkau Architects, with the current repurposing led by Henriquez Partners Architects and consultants BTY Group (project management); ITC Construction Management Integral (mechanical); Glotman Simpson (structural); Nemetz (electrical); DWD (theatre design); and BKL (acoustical design).
The new facility serves 24,000 guests annually, and is expected to support 15,000 children and youth every year through tuition-based programs and performances, as well as community programs, distance learning, bursaries, and scholarships within the next three to five years.
The education facility features six dance studios; four theatre, music and film studios with specialized technical and audio equipment; 10 art and design studios, including media labs and a photography darkroom; a 132-seat theatre; a public exhibition space; and a dedicated area for woodworking, and a stagecraft building.
The facility will prioritize the ongoing safety of staff and students with state-of-the-art engineering and retrofits, including an AtmosAir ionization system that naturally filters pollutants from the air.
