Arts Umbrella Association

Arts Umbrella Association

Arts Umbrella is a non-profit multi-disciplinary arts education centre for young people located on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest provider of arts education in Metro Vancouver, serving approximately 20,000 young people ages 2-22 each year. In addition to tuition-based programming offered at the Granville Island facility, Arts Umbrella offers no-cost programming to more than 15,000 young people each year through community programs operated in partnership with public schools, community centres, neighbourhood houses, and healthcare facilities.

History

Arts Umbrella began with five passionate artists and parents concerned about the availability of arts education in Metro Vancouver. In 1979, Arts Umbrella began offering arts programming to 45 children.

In 1983, Arts Umbrella moved into a converted nail factory Granville Island, and fundraised for renovations. The first Splash Art Auction & Gala was held to support these renovations.

In April of 2021, Arts Umbrella moved into former South Building of Emily Carr University of Art + Design on Granville Island. The facility more than doubled Arts Umbrella’s square footage, significantly increasing the capacity to serve young people throughout Metro Vancouver and across the province.

Artistic Programming

Audain School of Art & Design

The Audain School of Art & Design offers programs across a wide range of visual and media arts. Curriculum includes mentorship and experience-based learning.

In October of 2023, philanthropists Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa announced a $2 million donation to Arts Umbrella. Arts Umbrella has acknowledged this transformative commitment through the naming of the Audain School of Art & Design.

In addition to sessional tuition-based programming throughout the year, scholarship opportunites area available for students wishing to pursue a career in artistic fields. Ongoing scholarship programs include:

• The EA Teen Animation Scholarship; a 15-week program focused on animation methods, techniques, and technologies, with opportunities to learn from experienced industry professionals and guest EA lecturers
• Contemporary Art Practices; a three-week summer intensive in partnership with Contemporary Art Gallery for artists ages 15-19 interested in advancing their artistic skills and critical thinking
• Architecture Summer Intensive; a two-week summer intensive that provides teens with the unique opportunity to work with leading architects and industry experts to develop their portfolios,
• Art Exchange; a year-long visual art partnership with the Vancouver Art Gallery where students access exhibits and curators at the Vancvouer Art Gallery, then respond to their experience through self-directed proejcts

Robert M. Ledingham School of Theatre, Music & Film

Arts Umbrella's Robert M. Ledingham School of Theatre, Music & Film offers sessional, year-long, and intensive programs in the performing arts.

In October of 2019, Arts Umbrella announced that architect and heritage planner Robert Lemon had made a $2-million contribution to the Arts Umbrella Building Campaign in the name of his late partner Robert (Bob) Ledingham.

The unique Half-Day Professional Training Program in Performing Arts allows secondary school students to spend 25 hours a week at Arts Umbrella receiving advanced instruction in acting, singing, physical theatre, auditioning, stagecraft, and dance.

Each summer, two current Arts Umbrella Pre-Professional or Yearlong Intensive Theatre Program students are selected for the Stratford Proze Scholarship, connecting them to the Stratford Festival.

School of Dance

Within the School of Dance, students in the General Program (placed by age and academic grade) and students in the Professional Training Program (placed by audition) participate in annual Cecchetti examinations through to Level 8. At the Professional Training and Post-Secondary Program level, dancers also work with world-class choreographers, dance artists, and educators.

The Professional Training Program in Dance is an advanced half-day program is for high school students seriously considering a professional dance career. Classes are during the day, five mornings or afternoons a week, with a minimum of 25 hours weekly.

Arts Umbrella Post-Secondary Dance Programs deliver rigorous dance training for dedicated students working towards a professional career in dance. Arts Umbrella Dance offers two programs at this level: the Post-Secondary Dance Program and the Dance Diploma Program in partnership with Vancouver Community College. In addition to training, students work with international choreographers to present and tour new works. Choregraphers who have worked with Arts Umbrella Dance Company have included Crystal Pite, James Kudelka, Emily Molnar, Sharon Eyal, Johan Inger, Tom Weinberger, Cayetano Soto, Lesley Telford, Ihsan Rustem, and Aszure Barton.

Leadership

Executive Directors

• Paul Larocque (2016-Present)
• Lucille Pacey (2003-2016)
• Carol Henriquez (1986-2003)

Notable Faculty

• Angela Grossmann
• Colleen Heslin
• Paul Wong
• Babak Golnar

References

This article "Arts Umbrella Association" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Arts Umbrella Association. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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