Fine Arts Activities

Activity and open workshop participants must purchase clay from the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts through the front office. Please do not bring clay from another studio or other supplier. All clay sold at the Shadbolt Centre is cone 10 stoneware or porcelain. Clay prices include a charge for glazing and firing. Pricing can be found here: 

Clay is included in the registration fee for all activities for children and youth (4-18 yrs).

For a list of approved clays for kiln rentals and alternative firing workshops (wood, soda, raku, sawdust), please contact the Ceramics Technician at 604-205-3042 or email [email protected].

Activity and open workshop participants must bring their own tool kits, including brushes. The studio has bats, ware boards, rolling pins, banding wheels, scales, molds, chucks, stamps and texture tools for use in the classrooms. 

Beginner Toolkits are available for purchase at the Shadbolt Centre front office, and additional tools can be purchased through the Art Supply Store. 

The Shadbolt provides tools for all activities for children and youth (4-18 yrs).

Open workshops are scheduled 5 times per week during the fall, winter and spring sessions. Registration for each week of workshop sessions opens on Mondays at 10 am (for Burnaby residents and non-residents) for the following week beginning Monday. As of winter 2024, registration will be in-person and by phone only. Individuals are limited to registering for two open workshop sessions per week. There are no drop-in spaces available. Open workshops are self-directed and there is no instructor, but a ceramics technician is available to answer technical questions. Open workshops are not suitable for absolute beginners (some clay experience is required). Participants who are currently enrolled in another ceramic arts activity may register through the Shadbolt Centre front office to receive a 10% discount.

To ensure fair and reasonable access to studios and alternative firing opportunities, some ceramics activities at the Shadbolt Centre have their own withdraw deadlines, after which no refund is available. These are exceptions to the general cancellation and refund guidelines and are noted in the activity descriptions.

For open workshops, refunds are only available up to 24 hours before the start of class.

Alternative firings have their own deadlines to withdraw, after which no refund is available.
Wood: One month before the firing date
Soda: 2 weeks before the glazing date
Raku: 2 weeks before the day

For special workshops or guest workshops, refunds are available up to 48 hours before the start of class.

Bisque and glaze firing deadlines will be posted on the studio calendar. The bisque deadline is the second-to-last class, or the second-to-last week of open workshops. For the bisque deadline, all work must be moved from the damp room to the greenware carts in the Kiln Shed. For the glaze deadline, all work must be glazed and placed on the glaze shelf in the Kiln Shed. Items left behind at the end of each session will be disposed of.

The Shadbolt Modern Dance program focuses on developing improvisational skills and technique. Modern dance is distinguished by its use of expression, exploration and movement invention, working with live musical accompaniment.

The Shadbolt Ballet program follows the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus with a focus on dynamic alignment and technique to develop full body integration working with live musical accompaniment. (Please note: we do not do formal examinations)

The Shadbolt Tap program focuses on rhythm tap. Students explore rhythm tap while developing coordination and musicality working with live accompaniment. 

There are many styles of Jazz dance, each one of our instructors bring their own personal experience with the focus on developing technique, rhythm and musicality.

Shadbolt’s dance company’s focus on modern dance composition and performance. Dancers are introduced to ideas, purpose and appreciation of dance as an expressive art form. Release-based contemporary techniques and improvisation are integrated into class to support dancing with intention and personal expression in a supportive and non-competitive environment.

This learning experience takes our students through the process of producing a show–from the beginning idea right through to the fully staged public performance. Students don’t need previous experience–in this course you’ll work together to learn all the steps involved in creating live theatre.

Our students rehearse short musical numbers and acting sketches for a musical revue that shows the dance, singing and acting skills they’ve learned.

An original story created by the ensemble class is rehearsed and staged for a live audience. Off stage, the class learns about staging, lighting and how to use new media (like livestreaming video onstage) to make a good stage production great.

Learning speech arts gives us the skills and the confidence to communicate clearly in all kinds of speaking situations. In this course, our students receive voice training and they learn dramatic techniques and movement to give their words more impact in a performance, a debate or a speech.

This unique program doesn’t follow set lesson plans. Instead, it’s geared to the learning needs of the class. We introduce inspiring projects that show our students how they can stand up and be heard.

Speech Arts is available in 60-minute group lessons (maximum 6 students) and 30-minute private lessons. It’s also available as an online program.

Each season, we offer special workshops and programs in arts like puppetry, mask, monologue and improvisation. Our summer session includes week-long workshops.

Specialty 1 or 2 day workshops are offered each session with Shadbolt and guest artists/instructors.  These workshops allow our clients to expand their horizons with unique intensive art experiences. Please check our seasonal program guide for detailed information. 

Allow yourself the time and space to create in our large art studios! Bring your enthusiasm, ideas and supplies to work independently on your own art projects in the company of other practicing artists (no staff support included).