New SFU art school in Vancouver's Woodward's building?

by Rob Peters | November 14, 2007 at 12:49 pm

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They say artists are the first wave of gentrification. An art school, however, is a whole other kettle of fish. It sucks that a lot of the longtime artists in the Downtown Eastside are being displaced by richer and whiter suburban ones with money, but I have to say I like this idea. Art = good, in my books.

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - An $80 million expansion to the Woodwards Building Project is poised to be the latest in a series of attempts to revitalize one of Vancouver's most challenging neighbourhoods. Simon Fraser University's School for Contemporary Arts will call the Woodwards building home in the next few years.

The provincial government is chipping in nearly $50 million for the school with another $30 million to be raised privately. Premier Gordon Campbell says it's a good investment, as arts and culture contribute $5 billion a year to the economy.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan hopes other major institutions and developers join in SFU's move to the Downtown Eastside. "It will be the beginning of a revitalization of this area." Sullivan says while some may criticize the building of an $80 million art school when there are homeless to be sheltered, it should be pointed out the Woodwards development includes 200 social housing units.