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Place des Arts launched our Artist in Residence Program in 2014 with the objective of providing no-cost workshops for local school children to learn through the exploration of various art practices.
Thanks, in part, to ongoing funding from the City of Coquitlam, each season, Place des Arts engages several professional artists to lead free workshops at our centre, primarily for local elementary and middle-school field-trip groups.
Our Artist in Residence is the only free program of its kind that is targeted specifically to underserved schools in Maillardville.
Each residency includes 10 interactive workshops that provide a rare opportunity for the students to engage with, and learn from, highly regarded professional artists working in a variety of disciplines.
Testimonials for our Artist in Residence Program
“You don’t understand how this program enriches the lives of our students.”
Charity Hide, teacher at Alderson Elementary“Thanks for these residency programs. They are wonderful for our school population which so needs these enrichment activities but can’t afford them.”
Janet Lau, teacher at Alderson Elementary
Our Coquitlam Youth Theatre Company identified and explored emergent issues relating to emotional and physical well-being facing young people today. Together they developed, wrote and performed The Honey Files, a series of monologues that explore topics such as mental health, technology and peer support. These short films encourage peer-to-peer learning and connection.
In 2021, Place des Arts created a free, all-ages, online event to celebrate Coquitlam’s diversity and contribute to the discussion around the importance of belonging.
Director Susan Bertoia adapted Hans Christensen Andersen’s classic and universal fairy tale The Ugly Duckling. This story is a unique autobiographical tale of Andersen’s early life and hardship with fitting into the “right” society. Many children and adults can associate with the Duckling character as someone who is teased or does not know where they belong. Everyone needs to find a way to feel they fit in, whether it’s with family, friends, community or yourself.
We have created a few videos of easy art activities.
Art à la Carte is Place des Arts’ after-school program held in local elementary and middle schools. The program features classes in the visual and performing arts and provides arts education opportunities for children who may be unable to attend programs at Place des Arts.
To find out more about Art à la Carte opportunities, please email our Jessie Au – Sr. Fine & Performing Arts Programmer | jau@placedesarts.ca