Firehall Arts Centre
House and Home at the Firehall Arts Centre. Photo by Matt Reznick
The Firehall courtyard.
Situated in the historic heart of the city of Vancouver, the historic Firehall Arts Centre is an intimate, atmospheric space with original brick walls. It’s surrounded by Gastown, Chinatown and the Strathcona neighbourhood, and has a flexible black-box studio theatre, a dance and rehearsal studio, an enclosed outdoor courtyard with an outdoor stage, a licensed lobby and exhibition space.
The Firehall Arts Centre first opened on February 25th, 1982 in a heritage-designated building that dates back to 1906--a facility that had operated as a real firehall until 1975. The Playhouse Theatre Centre leased the centre from the city as a venue for its acting school, sharing it with resident companies Axis Theatre, Touchstone Theatre and La Troupe de la Seizieme. When the Playhouse moved out, the Firehall Theatre Society was founded in 1983 by five professional theatre and video artists with the goal of animating and operating the venue as a performing and visual arts centre. The founding board of directors was Wayne Specht, Lin Bennett, Doug Lemcke, Sandy Kovak, and Donna Spencer.
In 1985, the Firehall created, under the artistic direction of Donna Spencer, the first internship theatre training program for individuals from diverse cultural and Indigenous heritages. It also became the first professional theatre company with the mandate to produce and present theatre works reflective of the cultural pluralism of Canada.
In 1989-1990 the Firehall and its artistic director received an Innovation Award from the Jessie Richardson Society for their work in producing and presenting theatre reflective of the cultural diversity of Canada and for their work in providing internship training opportunities for IBPOC artists. The artistic director has been recognized for this work by the City of Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award and the Mayor’s Arts Award and the Province of British Columbia through its Community Achievement Award.
Today, the Firehall Theatre Society connects communities and encourages a greater understanding of Canada’s cultural pluralism through its productions, presentations, exhibitions and artistic practice. Its mission is to enrich lives and expand minds through the arts.
Its enduring vision is to showcase provocative performing and visual arts reflective of the diversity of Canada, with values like community, inclusion, transparency, education and sustainability.
The Firehall offers annual season passes including Full Four or Six Packs, which provide one ticket for four or six shows and Flex Packs in which you can mix and match your ticket use. Pass holders are considered members but there are also memberships for $10 per year.
Find Firehall Arts Centre at
280 East Cordova St.
Vancouver
V6A 1L3
Box Office Phone Number: 604-689-0926
