History – Page 18 – Firehall Arts Centre

Firehall Fact #7 – Spring has sprung with BC Buds

Posted: Mar 08 2012

click play below. it will set the mood for this post.

Ah, nothing touts the beginning of Spring better than Beethoven’s 6th Symphony and announcing BC Buds!

BC Buds is the Firehall’s Spring Arts Fair, and this will mark its 8th year.

This multi-disciplinary showcase features new and experimental work from established and emerging BC artists and takes place over a weekend in May. This year, it will be May 11 to 13.

The Fair is marvelously unconventional in that artists present their work all over the Firehall – yes, in the theatre and studio but also in the basement, lobby, stairways, hallways, courtyard and even the bathrooms!

This has created some memorable and unique work, and we’re hoping the 2012 Fair will continue that tradition – with a twist.

This year, there have been a few changes to the application. We’re honing in a little and looking for projects that promote sustainability and environmental and ecological health. Our hope is to find a few artists and pieces the Firehall can lend support to in upcoming seasons to help them grow from itty bitty baby buds into fully-blooming works.

If you are an artist interested in BC Buds, read the information and application below. If you are interested in seeing what’s new and interesting in the arts and culture scene in Vancouver, come check out BC Buds the weekend of May 11 through 13. You won’t be disappointed.

Click for the information and application

Donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Seedling in Soil image from Markuso’s stream on Free Digital Photos

Firehall Fact #6: It’s all about the youth

Posted: Mar 08 2012

Did you know the Firehall runs a Youth Training Program? Yep, since 2010.

The program began as a pilot project in the creative sector through Bladerunners, an organization working to provide basic employment training and skills for at-risk youth to enter the workforce.

Since its inception, the Training Program at the Firehall has had three intakes and a total of 13 interns have passed through. A number have gone on to complete their GEDs, attend post-secondary institutions, and one, our very own Alex Danard, became our Box Office and Volunteer Coordinator!

Last week saw the fourth group start, and we’re very excited to introduce you!

This is Justina, Victoria, Tia and Nicholas. And Mitch.

Say hi you guys!

This lovely group will be with us until July, learning the ropes of what it takes to work in an arts organization. They’ll get training in Front of House, Bartending, Box Office, Marketing and Outreach and Production.

Artist’s rendering. Not really what Mitch looks like

When you see them, say hi, they’re pretty cool. Look for future entries from them on the blog when they regale you with tales of their experiences at the Firehall!

Donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Firehall Fact #5

Posted: Mar 07 2012

Thirty years ago, when the Firehall first opened, the resident theatre company was Axis Mime Theatre, now known simply as Axis Theatre.

Axis Theatre Masks — Masks from Axis Theatre's Beginnings, one of two pieces Axis presented Opening Night February 25, 1982

Axis is a physical theatre company whose mandate it was to present work that educated and fostered appreciation for the performing arts to young audiences across BC. Since then, they have continued this work in conjunction with exploring more mature subjects in their work.

At that time, Axis Mime Theatre was unique in North America for its development of the mime play format. They utilized mask, mime illusion, pantomime blanche and acrobatics in their works.

When not performing and being generally awesome, Axis also taught mime classes in the building.

Axis Theatre will be touring to BC schools in the Fall of 2012.

Donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Firehall Fact #4 Facelift

Posted: Mar 05 2012

Joan Rivers. Kenny Rogers. David Gest. Dolly Parton. The Firehall Arts Centre.

What is the common thread?

Facelifts!

Turning a functioning fire station into a centre for the arts meant there were some cosmetic changes that needed to be made to the building.

One of those changes was in what is now our lobby and gallery space. This is a picture of what you currently see when you enter through our lobby doors. Pay attention to the brickwork in the space and you’ll notice what was done.

Walk up the stairs and into the lobby. Say hi to the bartender. Buy a drink. Tell them I sent you on a treasure hunt to find remnants of the old fire station. They’ll mutter about one of us being “weird”. Turn around, look at the exhibit on display. Let your eyes shift down toward the floor below the counter.

Do you see that arch under there? That is an old doorway. To create the dressing room and bathrooms below, they had to create a raised mezzanine-style space, and the lobby we now know was born.

Keep looking around and you’ll see other arches and the outlines of an old window.

The Firehall has made a few changes to the centre to create a space that is welcoming and is able to present the best work possible, while maintaining the aesthetic and feel of the building. We hope we’ve created a space you enjoy as much as we do.

Tell us about your favourite, funniest, weirdest memory of the Firehall Arts Centre in the comments below, on our Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win a Flex 4 Pack for the 2012-13 Season!

And, to donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Image of Joan Rivers from Top News

Firehall Fact #3 – This Bloomion’ Tree!

Posted: Mar 03 2012

If you’ve ever gone into the courtyard behind the Firehall, you’ve seen how peaceful a space it is in the centre of the city. The hustle and bustle is left behind as you sit, relax on the deck and look up at the beautiful cherry tree blooming in January.

Yes, that’s right, I said January.

The Firehall has one, if not if, the earliest blooming cherry tree in the city; this year, it was budding in December!

In Japanese culture, cherry blossom trees have a number of meanings, but most beautifully, they are the symbol of the bitter-sweetness that is being aware of the impermanence of life.

Next time you come down to the Firehall, make your way to the courtyard and sit below the tree. Enjoy a cup of coffee or wine from the bar and zen out in our little oasis.

And remember to join us May 11 to 13 for the 8th Annual BC Buds Spring Arts Fair as well, there’s sure to be a performance below her beautiful bows.

The Firehall Arts Centre has been a mainstay in the DTES and Vancouver arts scene for 30 years, but we can’t do it without you! Donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Firehall Fact #2 (or Fiction)

Posted: Mar 02 2012

Seeing as the Firehall is an older building, there are a lot of stories that have been told and retold about happenings here.

linkshare_vtb_medium_firefighter — Not actually the bear in question. Merely an interpretation of what he may have looked like

One of my favourites is about the Bear.

Back when Vancouver was still mostly wilderness, and the city was still growing, the fireman at the #1 Firehall took in an abandoned bear cub.

They kept it in the courtyard, with the horses and dogs, and it quickly became a member of the station.

One fine, sunny day, a gent went down to the Army & Navy and purchased a shotgun. He was quite pleased with himself, and headed back home.

On his way there, he had to pass by the #1 Firehall.

What happened next was shocking.

As the the man passed the courtyard, he saw a bear mauling one of the firemen. He loaded up his new shotgun, took aim, and

BLAM!

Shot the vicious bear.

He ran over to check on the fireman, and found him weeping over the deceased bear. As it happens, the fireman wasn’t being attacked. He was wrestling with the fire station’s mascot.

The firemen, unsure of what to do with their beloved wild pet, took it down into the broiler room and incinerated the body.

Legend has it, that the spirit of the bear remains in the Firehall, protecting the inhabitants.

There you have it folks! So next time you come to the Firehall, be aware of the furry spirit creature that resides in the building.

Donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Cute-circus-bear — What was actually happening

Fireman teddybear image from Dear Teddy Bear

Grizzly bear image from Wild Animals Fight Club

Bear kiss image from Die Welt

Firehall Fact #1

Posted: Mar 01 2012

Vancouver is a relatively young city – we’ve just celebrated our 125 birthday. In that time, Vancouver has created quite a colourful history for itself, and the Firehall is proud to be a part of it!

For our $30 for 30 Campaign, we’re posting a fact about the Firehall every day for 30 days. Today will be the first one!

Firehall Fact #1

The Firehall Arts Centre is housed in a designated Heritage building. Remember that little fact above about Vancouver being 125? Well, the building the Firehall is in was built in 1906! That’s a whopping 106 years ago!

It was the Vancouver’s first fire station, and was open until 1975, when it was converted into a performance space. Below is a picture of the Firehall in 1912. Figure out what’s missing and you get an awesome point!

Figure it out?

The answer is horses!

For years, horses were the means by which fire stations put out fires – they drew wagons with hoses, ladders, chemicals for putting out certain fires, steamers… you mane it!

Did you notice the fire trucks in the picture above? Our Firehall was also the first motorized fire station in North America.

So, to conclude the first of our 30 facts about the Firehall: this building has played a significant role in Vancouver’s history, as well as being a part of innovation in North America.

To donate to the Firehall for our $30 for 30 Campaign through Canada Helps or through our website!

Image of the 1912 Firehall taken from the Firehall Arts Centre Archives

Image of the 1916 Horse-drawn Hose Wagon taken from Last Resort Fire Department

Goodness Me.

Posted: Feb 28 2012

Next week Volcano Theatre’s Goodness takes over the Firehall from March 6 to 11.

The show is critically acclaimed and has toured extensively, even stopping in at the Festival Arts Azimut in Rwanda in 2009. Tara Hughes who plays the young version of the character “Althea” in the play, produced a documentary about the tour- what it was like to be a Canadian theatre company going to Rwanda to perform a play about genocide. Although the theme is quite heavy the film also explores the power of art and the strength and buoyancy of the human spirit.

I haven’t seen it yet, but am eagerly looking forward to it. Go here to learn more about the documentary.

Here’s a short glimpse of what you can expect from the play:

$30 For 30

Posted: Feb 27 2012

THE FIREHALL’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY DONATION CAMPAIGN

30 years ago, the Firehall Theatre opened its doors. City of Vancouver Mayor Mike Harcourt pulled up to the theatre in a 1912 fire truck driven by Fireman Alex Matches (what a name!) to cut the ribbon on the new theatre, and we were off and running!

Since that time, the Firehall has been working with the mandate to animate the heritage building with eclectic theatre, dance, music and interdisciplinary works that celebrate Canada’s cultural pluralism, and has hosted over four thousand performances for audiences of all ages.

Fast forward to today, and the Firehall Arts Centre has received numerous awards for its commitment to artistic excellence and inclusion and to the community of the Downtown Eastside. Preparing to enter its 30th season, the Firehall is one of Vancouver’s most beloved and respected cultural hubs consisting of a theatre, studio, gallery and exhibition space.

To celebrate our 30 years, the Firehall is launching a $30 for 30 Campaign, asking you to donate a dollar for each of our 30 years!

Over the next 30 days, we will be posting a Firehall fact on our social media sites; check Facebook, Twitter and our Blog for updates!

Share YOUR favourite Firehall memory for a chance to win a 4 Flex Pack for the 2012-13 Season!

Click here to make your donation, or contact us at 604.689.0691 or firehall@firehallartscentre.ca

80s Dance Update!

Posted: Feb 24 2012

Remember the 80s? I do, at least the last half or so. They were pretty rad.

Magnum (sigh), shoulder pads, big hair, the original TRON…

Well, you can RELIVE THOSE MOMENTS!!

How?

Tomorrow night. 10pm. Bring your best leg warmers and dancing shoes!

This duo-fundraiser will raise funds for the Firehall as well as charities that work with HIV/AIDS through Theatre Cares.

Tickets are $25 and are available through the Firehall Box Office (604.689.9026) or online.

Dress up in 80s clothes or bring in your ticket stub from Chelsea Hotel and get $5 off at the door!!

Prepare yourself for a gnarly evening full of radical entertainment sources including:

DJ Prom Night (aka Tarran The Tailor) spinning all the best original 80s tunes the way they should be – on a laptop

10-10:30pm Jazzercise!!! It wouldn’t be party without lifting your legs in spandex!

Drink Specials

Nostalgic Door prizes (may or may not include a “vintage” 80s typewriter with a 20 word memory…)

Prize for the best 80s costume

And no birthday would be complete without cake, so we’ll have one of those too!

To quote Rod Roddy, “Come on Down!”

Magnum photo from filmbug

Michael Jackson and Mr T from Flavorwire