The Building
Three well equipped studios and an outdoor space are available to you:
In our bright clean workshops, people of all ages can cultivate skills in the arts and other creative endeavors. The Birtle Centre for the Arts (BCA) building, formerly known simply as The Centre, serves as a hub for a growing and energized community of artists and volunteers who work to nurture creativity through a wide range of affordable programming. Pictured above is the January 13th, 2017 grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open a fully functioning building!
There are three main areas in BCA. As you enter, you are first struck by a bright and airy multi-purpose studio front. Showcasing one-of-a-kind items made for sale and consigned by local artists and artisans, this space acts as both display area and workshop. This space has several custom cabinets to house specialized tools for programs including fibre arts/sewing, a multitude of hand tools for working with clay, a slab roller and a spray booth.
As you enter the second space, you encounter a dedicated ceramics studio with 4 Brent wheels, an electric kiln, an extruder and shelves overflowing with pieces in every stage of production.
Lastly, what was once a carwash has been fully renovated and now serves as a separate woodworking studio, featuring a full complement of equipment, allowing everything from wood turning to knife making.
The front circular patio has direct access to the woodworking studio. The patio has built in seating topping the retaining wall that is perfect for a warm weather coffee break or a rest stop for those walking to the seniors’ Drop In next door. A small garden overflows with blooms and separates the patio from the main building.
