The W2 Community Media Arts Centre is a highly anticipated project opening in the Winter of 2009-2010 at the landmark Woodward’s redevelopment in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. In the leadup to opening, W2 is operating the 13,000 sq ft W2 Culture + Media House across the street at 112 W Hastings.
It is intended to provide a vibrant and complementary focal point in the redevelopment of Woodward’s and act as a catalyst in the revitalization of the Vancouver Downtown Eastside by emphasizing the development capacity by and for the DTES residents.
The Centre’s objectives are to produce and present new works of artistic significance and social benefit; to empower individuals and communities (young and old alike); and to engage with technology and interdisciplinary artists as producers rather than consumers. Emphasis will be placed on cross-cultural sharing, artistic and social outcomes, as well as the quality of process.
W2 will bring together hybrid art forms, community art practices, individual human development and community cultural development in a single environment. It will be home to a diverse grouping of Vancouver arts and community service organizations offering developmental programs in writing, radio and television production, painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, video and cross-media.
Cultural services delivery will include a broad range of daily public offerings, including walk-in activities, courses, workshops, symposia, and individual and group practice. In addition, the combination of administrative and production spaces will provide professional and supportive structures, in which people can make new work, extend and develop their practice, and establish new contexts for public presentation. A portal to the global community will also be realized through 24/7 webcasting and satellite distribution systems from the performance centre, digital media labs, and TV studio.
Links:
[1] http://www.creativetechnology.org/
[2] http://rabble.ca/user
[3] http://rabble.ca/user/register