Giving Compass' Take:

• Writing for the Vancouver Sun, Fred Lee discusses an arts education organization in British Columbia called Arts Umbrella, which encourages local youth to express themselves through dance, theater, music and other creative endeavors.

• This space is well funded by both the government and private investors, and could serve as a model for groups across North America looking to promote more arts-based youth development.

• Here's more about economic stability in the arts education field.

2018 has been a banner year for Arts Umbrella, Canada’s preeminent arts education organization for young people. Based in British Columbia, the non-profit earlier this year got the green light for relocation of its current premises on Granville Island to the South Building of the former Emily Carr University property a stone’s throw away. The 50,000 square foot, purpose-built, arts education facility will house seven dance studios; five theatre & music studios; eight visual, applied & media arts studio; a 160-seat professional theatre; a publicly accessible exhibition gallery; and new workshop spaces.

In March the firm received $7 million in cultural space funding from the federal government to sparkplug the move and expansion. The B.C. government would pitch in another $1.4 million. A private sector capital campaign to raise an additional $20 million to realize this transformative project has raised already more than $10 million.

The show of support would continue at the Nicola Wealth Management Invitational. Benefiting Arts Umbrella, the golf gala would net $230,000 in proceeds to ensure the benefits of a high-quality arts education would reach even more children and youth across Metro Vancouver.

Arts Umbrella has been offering arts education in dance, theatre, music, visual arts, and digital arts to children for nearly 40 years; more than 20,000 young people annually, with eighty per cent through free community programs made possible by the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations, says Paul Larocque, President & CEO of Arts Umbrella.

Read the full article about arts umbrella in British Columbia by Fred Lee at vancouversun.com.