Thank You, Volunteers!

Last night we hosted our Volunteer Appreciation event in celebration of National Volunteer Week.

ArtStarts relies on the amazing, quality work that our volunteers generously provide. Since 2006, we’ve been lucky enough to have been granted 6,607 hours of volunteer time! We've been shown a HUGE amount of dedication and generosity, and we couldn’t be more thankful.

Join us at A&C Playground!

A&C Playground
Presented by ArtStarts as part of BC Arts and Culture Week

WHEN: Wednesday April 25, 2012, 6:30pm

WHERE: ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards Street, Vancouver (map)

Showcase 2012

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” – Albert Einstein

These six words became the guiding theme of this year’s ArtStarts Showcase conference, sparking one bright idea after another. Building on this, the ArtStarts team focused on joining Inspiration and Information to shape this year’s event, which was held March 1 & 2 in Vancouver.

African Drumming and Dancing with MaObong Oku, A true African Cultural Experience

For our February ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop series, we were pleased to present MaObong Oku. This was the second time we have had this amazing Nigerian born artist visit us for the ArtStarts on Saturdays series and she does not disappoint.

Music, Dance and Martial Arts, A True Visual Feast with Aché Brasil

For our January installment of ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop series, we were delighted to host Aché Brasil for a fun and engaging workshop where both parents and kids were clapping along and dancing to the drumming rhythms.

Welcoming Max as our Communications + Development Manager

Artstarts is pleased to announce the addition of a new staff member, Max Kullberg. Max joins the ArtStarts’ team as Development + Communications Manager.

The Kingsway Project unfolds

ArtStarts and professional photographer and media artist Anne Marie Slater have come together to bring the history of the Kingsway corridor alive for 120 grade 3 to 7 students at two Kingsway area schools, Sir Guy Carleton and Charles Dickens Elementary. Made possible through the support of the City of Vancouver’s125th Anniversary Grant Program, this three-month residency aims to

• create a legacy project that honours the heritage of Vancouver 
• foster critical thinking, collaboration and creativity in youth through their engagement in a hands-on art project with a professional artist
• introduce children to cultural resources, including City of Vancouver Archives and ArtStarts gallery, and
• publicly present art that celebrates community and builds cultural connections

Around the World with Boris Sichon

For our Septemeber ArtStarts on Saturday’s workshop, we had the pleasure of hosting Boris Sichon for an amazing musical experience that kept us all captivated.

ArtStarts Open House for Culture Days

Get in the spirit of Culture Days at the ArtStarts Open House featuring:

• with free face painting with Samantha Rae
• sidewalk chalk art with local artist Brent Clowater
• gallery tours of our current exhibition BIG IDEAS
• tasy treats and MORE! 

Sunday October 2, 11am - 3pm
808 Richards St. (map)

BIG IDEAS opening a BIG HIT!

After months of planning, designing, installing, tweaking and talking, the BIG IDEAS exhibition of young people’s art launched with an appropriately BIG BANG! The ArtStarts gallery was filled with a wonderful array of well-wishers, from the young artists and their teachers to school superintendents, event organizers from the Vancouver Biennale and ArtStarts, important community contacts, friends, family and more.

Young Artists visit for Grow Exhibition Opening

45 student artists from Mount Pleasant Elementary School visited ArtStarts for the opening celebration of Grow, an exhibition that features artwork that they, along with students from across BC, created in collaboration with professional artists. The work was inspired by their interactions with nature and discussions around sustainability.

A&C Mashup success!

Arts and culture lovers gathered at the ArtStarts gallery last night for A&C Mashup. The event was organized by ArtStarts as part of BC Arts and Culture Week, in celebration of the role the arts play in learning and in life. 

Busy time for Arts Advocacy in Canada

It is a busy time for arts advocacy in Canada. From conferences and summits to celebrations happening across the country, to the upcoming Federal Election prompting the arts sector to stand up and take action.  

A&C Mashup for Arts and Culture Week

Grow: Creating an Exhibition at ArtStarts

Installation of our latest art exhibition "Grow" has just been completed and our gallery walls are once more hung with beautiful, moving and inspiring art work created by some of BC's talented young people. We spoke to the show's curator, Katie Varney, to get some deeper insight into the show and how it all came together.

Big Sisters back at ArtStarts for Art Crawl 2010

ArtStarts had the pleasure of welcoming the Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland back to the gallery as part of their annual Art Crawl.

At the Michael J. Fox Theatre with Burnaby Students

We’re just back from a wonderful presentation by Ballet Victoria to an audience made up of grades 4-7 from the Burnaby school district, at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. This presentation was the second in a series of four that is being presented by the Burnaby Young People’s Concert Series.  

Art-Making Underway at Windemere Secondary School

We recently visited Windemere Secondary School in Vancouver, where on that particular day, Grade 8 students were learning stenciling techniques with Vancouver artist and muralist, Indigo.

Racism. Stop It! Free Filmmaking Workshop

Considering taking part in the Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition? Take advantage of this free workshop being offered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

How to Produce an Award-Winning Public Service Announcement
For youth between the ages of 12 and 20.
Wednesday, November 24, 4pm – 8pm
ArtStarts in School, 808 Richard Street, Vancouver, BC
Registration Deadline: Friday November 19, 2010

Singing and Dancing with Will Stroet

This Haloween weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting a crowd of little monsters, dinosaurs, giraffes, bumble bees plus their mums and dads at our most recent ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop with Will Stroet!

Gallery Tour - Grade 6's Hearing Voices

Grade six students from Clinton Elementary School in Burnaby were recently given a tour of our exhibition Hear Our Voices. Conversation and questions arose amongst the students as they looked at, read and interacted with the richly diverse collection of work on display. When asked for their thoughts on the show, one enthusiastic student declared, "I love it! Beautiful artwork!".

Wild Things, Wild Play with Kathryn Ricketts

Roaring, stomping, clapping, dancing. Kids and parents had lots of fun acting like monsters at our latest ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop! Kathryn Ricketts stopped by the gallery space on June 26th to lead two interactive storytelling workshops based on Maurice Sendak's classic tale, Where the Wild Things Are.

Taiko Drumming with Bonnie Soon

Bonnie Soon stopped by the Artstarts gallery on Saturday to lead two lively Taiko drumming workshops. Using garbage can as drums, kids and parents learned the basic stance and movements involved in Taiko drumming, and also did some fun vocal shouts!

Safe Amp at ArtStarts

Last month the ArtStarts Gallery was host to a special fundraising event for The Safe Amplification Site Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a permanent all-ages space for music and other arts events in Vancouver.

Arts & Culture Week at Dasmesh School

The 11th annual BC Arts & Culture Week wrapped up on April 24th. Many schools and arts councils around the province took part. From the Arty Awards in Abbotsford to a school tour of the north by Vancouver dance company Joe Ink, citizens and students across BC got engaged in arts activities that connected them with their local communities.

Instrument Fun with The Kerplunks

Award-winning band The Kerplunks visited ArtStarts today to deliver a fun-filled musical performance. The 4 talented members taught the audience about a variety of instruments, including bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone, banjo, drums, and even kazoo!

Sudnya Mulye at the ArtStarts Gallery

Sudnya Mulye visited the ArtStarts Gallery on Saturday for a workshop on Indian Dance. Kids and parents learned about the classical dance style Bharata Natyam, exploring Indian culture and tradition through this expressive medium.

Schools Across BC prepare for Arts & Culture Week

Schools across BC are preparing to celebrate BC Arts & Culture Week. During the week of April 18-24, hundreds of schools and community arts organizations will host events, from Arts Galas to theatrical performances.

Drumming with Milton Randall

Saturday marked another action-packed ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop. Milton Randall dropped by to teach kids & parents about the language of drumming. Participants got a workout and practiced their counting skills as they banged on their individual drums.

Sing-along with Bobs & Lolo

After a month in hiatus, the ArtStarts on Saturdays series is off to a great start in 2010. In record breaking numbers, families poured into the ArtStarts gallery for a performance by popular local artists, Bobs and Lolo. Kids sang and danced to a number of songs, using movement and imagination to celebrate the natural world.

Welcome To Our World

This afternoon ArtStarts celebrated the opening of our newest gallery exhibition: Welcome To Our World. It was a busy day, as young artists, friends, teachers and mentors came to see the display of creative work by students from Port Moody to Greenland.

More photos of African Dance!

Here are some more photos from our exciting African Dance workshop with Maobong Oku. Many thanks to Lia Margueratt for documenting the event.

African Dance with Maobong

The ArtStarts Gallery was packed on Saturday for two invigorating African Dance workshops with Maobong Oku. Kids and parents got a workout as Maobong led them through a series of different dances that celebrate Nigerian culture.

Toward cultural harmony

Students at Handsworth Secondary in North Vancouver concluded a special music project with a concert at their school Friday afternoon. Working with a composer-in-residence, several world music experts, and mentors from Sinfonia Orchestra, a group of students collaborated over several months to create cross-cultural musical works that reflect their ideas on matters of cultural understanding, pluralism and community building.

Big Sisters Art Crawl kicks off its first year at ArtStarts

The Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland visited ArtStarts this weekend to participate in their first ever Art Crawl. Participants had tours of both the Contemporary Art Gallery and ArtStarts, where they checked out the Creative Connections exhibition.

Halloween with Max-i-Mime

Halloween was an opportunity to get creative and act out some fun and spooky characters at the ArtStarts Gallery this weekend. Max-i-mime started off our free Saturday workshop with a hilarious performance, demonstrating how to tell an expressive story without using any words.

Children Live Dream Here

Opening tonight! Strathcona Elementary students will celebrate an ongoing community-based project with outdoor projections of their photography this evening. Drop in after school or work to see photos and hear audio recordings that reveal the voice of inner-city children.

Lord Roberts Elementary gears up for a special drawing project...

This morning excited students from Vancouver's Lord Roberts Elementary visited the ArtStarts gallery to get a glimpse of where their artwork will soon be exhibited. Three classes will be working with artist Julian Lawrence throughout the fall to produce a comic book project reflecting their connections to the spirit of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Michael Mitchell gets kids dancing to songs about Canadian history!

Seasoned children's performer Michael Mitchell visited the ArtStarts gallery on Saturday to perform some songs about Canadian history! He got kids stomping around like prehistoric dinosaurs, paddling an imaginary canoe through the Land of the Silver Birch, and waltzing like Log-Drivers on the Ottawa river.

SWARM takes ArtStarts by storm!

What an exhilarating performance by Vancouver's very own hyper- kinetic percussion troupe SWARM! The group offered a unique hands on experience filled with fun, music and movement. Kids learned action drumming using funky recycled instruments such as rubber tubing, garbage can drums and even rubber duckies and chickens. Parents and kids leaving the event told us it was a blast, so awesome, and that they i loved it all!

Traffic Saftey for everybody!

Once again, kids, parents and grandparents joined us for another successful Saturday event featuring the dynamic and playful, Major Conrad Flapps. His“Traffic Safety Show” parodies hip-hop and rap as Flapps demonstrates the right and wrong ways to cross the street.

They sang, they danced, they played!

Children and parents were captivated by popular children's entertainer Art Napolean at the ArtStarts in Schools Saturday series on June 27th. Art's performance was fun and interactive, which kept the audience interested as he playfully taught kids Cree chants, drumming and traditional stories ending in a friendship dance.

Night for appreciation

Staff, board, and volunteers wined, dined and enjoyed good conversation at the ArtStarts gallery last Friday. ArtStarts celebrated another successful year of artistic creativity while honoring our wonderful volunteers.

Joe Ink moves it!

Both children and parents shook it up and stretched it out at the May 30th Move it Show. The Joe Ink workshop was stimulating and interactive for kids and allowed their parents to bring out their inner child as they joined in the live dance performance. Energetic lead dancers Jacci and Barb encouraged everyone to be a "super dancer" as they coached participants to follow the magic hand, do the robot or paint the bubble.

Free performing arts workshops for families

Starting January 31st, ArtStarts is presenting a free performance series for families in Vancouver's downtown area. "ArtStarts on Saturdays" will kick off with a workshop by circus artist Sand Northrup AKA One Woman Circus, who will introduce youngsters to circus skills including feather balancing, juggling, rola bola and plate-spinning.

Elsie Roy visits ArtStarts

We had groups of students from the neighbouring elementary school, Elsie Roy, working with artist Elizabeth Mackenzie on a portraiture residency at the gallery.