Arts Umbrella just launched their 2025 Spring “Did You Know” campaign, and some of these stats are pretty surprising. Canada’s leading arts education organization has been low-key doing something remarkable.
Here’s something that might surprise you – while Arts Umbrella is known as this incredible place where young artists develop their skills, nearly 75% of their students are actually there at no cost. Not reduced fees or payment plans. Completely free.
In 2023/24, Arts Umbrella had 5,366 students in their regular tuition programs. But here’s the thing – they also had 14,544 students who participated without paying anything. That’s almost three times as many kids getting free access to quality arts education.
They give out over 545 scholarships and bursaries every year. On top of that, they run 20 different programs with 110+ community partners (schools, community centers, healthcare facilities) to reach 6,734 kids and teens.
And in 2024, over 70 public schools accessed their programming at no cost.
Reaching Remote Communities, Too
One of their programs, Northern Arts Connection, brings live arts education to remote communities across Canada – places like Ontario, Yukon, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut. These are areas where kids might not otherwise have access to professional arts instruction.
Last year, they reached 183 students across nine schools in some pretty remote locations. Meanwhile, their Post-Secondary Dance Program attracts students from around the world to train in Vancouver.
Supporting All Ages
Since 1979, Arts Umbrella has been working with kids from age 2 to 22. They’re not just teaching technique – they’re helping young people explore creativity and find their place in the world through arts education.
Their approach covers everything from parent-and-child classes for toddlers to serious professional training for young adults.
How You Can Help
The great thing about Arts Umbrella’s model is that community support directly creates opportunities for more students.
Make a donation online. Any amount helps – small donations really do add up to create access for young artists who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Attend student performances. The students are talented, and ticket sales help support the programs:
- Arts Umbrella Dance Company Season Finale: May 22-24 at the Vancouver Playhouse
- Expressions Theatre Festival: Running now through June 7 (full lineup available online)
Visit their Granville Island store. They sell merchandise there, and purchases support their programming.
Why This Matters
Arts education can be expensive, and quality programs often are. But Arts Umbrella has figured out how to make excellent training accessible to everyone, regardless of what families can afford.
When any kid can access the same high-quality arts education, regardless of their background, it creates opportunities that ripple through entire communities.
So the next time you see a confident young performer or impressive student artwork, there’s a good chance Arts Umbrella played a role in making that possible. And chances are, cost wasn’t a barrier for that student’s family.
For more information about Arts Umbrella and the 2025 Spring Fundraising Campaign, visit www.artsumbrella.com.