Working with the Park Board
and Community Centres

A Guide for Artists and Performers

There are many ways in which artists and performers can work with the Park Board and community centres across Vancouver.

An Arts Policy guides the direction of arts programs and projects. The vision is of a city where the arts are an integral part of everyday life; where community cultural development processes strengthen civil society, where parks and community centres reflect the cultural vitality of the community and where people are able to learn and express creativity in ways that build healthy communities.

Teaching or Performing Opportunities in Community Centres

Vancouver's community centres welcome proposals from artists wishing to teach a variety of creative and performing art courses. Check the online recreation guide to find out what is currently being offered at each centre. Most courses are designed for recreational, beginner and intermediate students. They range from one day workshops, to weekly classes running for 8-12 weeks. Typically, centres publish a program brochure three or four times a year, with deadlines for new instructor proposals falling approximately at the beginning of October, mid-January, mid-April, and mid-June.

You can submit contact information and course proposals to individual centres, or on the Online Instructor and Performer Database. Information submitted online is available to all Vancouver Park Board programmers at centres, rinks and pools. You may choose to follow-up by contacting programmers at the individual centres.

Community centres also host a number of celebrations for which they hire performers. Check program brochures or the online guide to find out more about these events.

Park Board Programs

Artists in Communities and Neighbourhood Matching Fund. Both of these programs involve community members in the creation of unique works and/or performances and celebrations in their neighbourhoods.

The Artists in Communities Program takes place at different community centres each year. The program is open to artists and performers in all disciplines through a single annual call for interest.

The Neighbourhood Matching Fund supports projects in which community members are involved in creative improvements to public spaces and has two deadlines annually.

Exhibiting Art work in Community Centres

Some community centres offer space in the lobby or in display cases for artists to show their work. Different policies apply and many centres like to support neighbourhood artists. Some centres also have one-day art shows of local work. Contact your local centre for more information.

Painters' Circle (Stanley and Queen Elizabeth Parks)

Painters and portrait artists may apply for a permit to work in Queen Elizabeth and Stanley Parks. Permit Guidelines and Fees.

Performances in Parks and Community Centres Initiated by Dance, Theatre and Other Performance Groups

Parks and community centres can provide appropriate settings for performances. Please be aware that demand for space can be competitive and it is best to approach individual centre about availability between 6 months and 1 year in advance. Each centre has its own policy on space use. Rental fees may apply or centres may want to partner to provide performances for their community.

Haywood Bandstand
The Park Board schedules a low-key summer concert series in Alexandra Park on Beach Avenue. Email the Arts and Culture office if you are interested.

Special Projects
Each year the Park Board manages a number of special projects such as Art and Seniors' Health, youth initiatives, community film showings, cultural programming, etc.

Working with your local community to develop and promote arts experiences for the community:

•  Join a Community Centre Association or Arts Committee
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation operates community centres in partnership with neighbourhood non-profit Community Associations. What happens in any centre is largely determined by the Associations. Associations welcome new members and invite everyone to consider helping to determine the course of their community centre by serving as a board member or joining a committee.

•  Volunteer some time on an arts project
Community centres are sometimes involved in art-making projects, such as Artist in Residence and Neighbourhood Matching Fund projects. Check with your local centre, or your centre guide, to find out what's happening in your neighbourhood. For an idea of arts projects that have happened in the past, check the Park Board's Artsfinder.

•  Participate in community festivals
Almost all community centres support community festivals. The Autumn Moon Festival at Renfrew, Diwali at the Roundhouse and Canada Day at Sunset are a very few of the opportunities to celebrate the arts with your community.

•  Explore exchanging free performances for free rehearsal space.
In some cases, centres may be interested in donating space for rehearsal in exchange for free performances for the community. Check with individual centres to explore this possibility.

Public Art Opportunities

Public art is located in parks through different processes; through temporary exhibits, donations, the Community Public Art Program or one of the Park Board programs described above or though the Civic program whereby public funds are allocated to new facility or park development. Check the City of Vancouver Public Art webpage for artist calls. The Park Board follows the City's guidelines for donations of public art.

Park Board facilities specializing in the arts:

Moberley Arts and Cultural Centre (MACC Studio Theatre)
7646 Prince Albert Street, (1 block East of Fraser at 60th Avenue)
Vancouver, BC V5X 3Z4
Phone: 604-718-6521, Fax: 604-718-6570
MACC is a community art centre in South Vancouver with rehearsal, performance and art-making space.

Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2W3
Phone: 604-713-1800, Fax: 604-713-1813
The Roundhouse is a full community centre with performance and exhibition halls.

Jericho Arts Centre
1675 Discovery Street
Vancouver, BC V6R 4K5
JAC is primarily used as a theatre space, and is home to the United Players.

For more information about the Vancouver Parks Board's arts and culture initiatives, check the Arts and Culture webpage.

To receive information about Park Board projects and art calls, email the Arts and Culture Office to be added to the Park Board's artist email list.

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