Arts Umbrella is leading the way in accessible arts education for youth in B.C.

When a group of four artists in Vancouver came together in 1979 to found what would become Arts Umbrella, they had one goal in mind: to address the gap in arts education for children and youth in the local community. What initially started as a pilot project at the False Creek Co-op with 45 students quickly gained traction. And in 1983, the organization made Granville Island its home.

Arts Umbrella aims to deliver profound life experiences through arts education that inspire young people to live creative, authentic and courageous lives, whether it be through theatre, dance, art, design, music or film.

Over its 46 years serving Metro Vancouver—and now Canada—the organization has expanded its reach and impact. In 2021, Arts Umbrella opened a new facility in the South Building of the former Emily Carr University on Granville Island. It has also been part of the Surrey community for 13 years and offers remote education. The program offerings are also diversifying (think: claymation, stagecraft, architecture and environmental design), fostering the next generation of talent for youth aged two to 22.

“When young people have access to arts education, they develop many skills,” says Paul Larocque, President and CEO of Arts Umbrella. “The ability to, for example, stand up in front of people and talk about your painting or to perform in a musical theatre production in a room filled with high school peers. To have that courage to express oneself through the arts is extremely empowering.”

Arts education also builds resiliency and problem-solving skills. “There’s been a lot of research looking at the role arts education plays with young people in developing compassion and empathy—the ability to work in a team, to celebrate each other’s work and find humanity through the process of creating art… We’re certainly seeing and experiencing that at Arts Umbrella,” Larocque says.

The organization’s biggest impact comes through its Community Programs, which partner with 110 locations across Metro Vancouver. Arts Umbrella serves approximately 22,000 young people annually, with nearly 75 percent participating at no cost. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through donor generosity are made available for families who might not otherwise be able to afford these programs,” Larocque says. “And we are so grateful to our donors for making this possible.”

Arts Umbrella also works with partner locations like the Covenant House, BC Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House to make high-quality arts education accessible to as many people as possible.

The organization employs 300 passionate arts educators and facilitators. “I am so proud to be associated with Arts Umbrella and the extraordinary work that is being done on the front line by the talented and innovative instructors who are truly making a very profound difference for young people,” Larocque says.

To learn more about Arts Umbrella and donate, visit artsumbrella.com or artsumbrella.com/support/donate.

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