Arts Umbrella 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.

Photo credit: Arts Umbrella
The 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. Photo credit: Kevin Clark
Arts Umbrella was founded in 1979 as a community-based organization that opened to 45 students on Granville Island. The initial building design 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 facility will prioritize the ongoing safety of staff and students with state-of-the-art engineering and retrofits, inclu...