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The former Granville Island campus that Emily Carr University of Art and Design called home until their new digs opened up on Great Northern Way will be renovated for a not-for-profit youth-oriented arts education centre. Founded in 1979, Arts Umbrella focuses on providing education in dance, theatre, music, visual arts and digital arts to children and youth aged two to 21. The organization has been operating out of a nearby facility on Cartwright Street, but programming needs have pushed them beyond their current capacity.
Late last week the federal government announced $7 million in what was touted the largest single investment in British Columbia in the history of the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund program. The money will be used to support the upgrades required to their new home, which will include seven dance studios, four theatre and music studios, eight visual and media arts studios, and a 160-seat performance theatre space.
The British Columbia government announced the transfer of the building to Arts Umbrella in November 2017. The move to 1400 Johnston Street significantly boosts the organization's square footage from 14,000 to 50,000. Their current facility, a converted nail factory dating back to the 1930s, is too small to accommodate the growing patronage.
Arts Umbrella has also launched a private sector capital campaign to fundraise an additional $20 million. More than $10 million has already been committed, including contributions from the Richardson Family Foundation, Audain Foundation and Goldcorp Inc.
Richard Henriquez of Henriquez Partners Architects is leading the revitalization of the Patkau-designed building, which opened in the early 1990s. Arts Umbrella is estimating a project completion date of fall 2019.
