Setsuko Piroche, Circus, 1995. Collagraph 

Playhouse is a teaching and learning exhibition with artwork by over 20 Canadian artists. It presents the Gordon Smith Gallery as a place for playing make-believe, telling powerful stories, and world building through character driven narratives. The exhibition sets the stage for us to consider ways in which the physical, social, cultural, and imagined qualities of a place are intertwined. 

Playhouse is inspired by comics, broadly interpreted as characters acting in frames, asserting control over their own narratives. Comics are accessible forms of storytelling where readers build relationships with characters and settings over time. Throughout the exhibition you will see sculptures, animation, paintings, and textiles containing active forms and figures performing within their panels and waiting to be interpreted by readers of all ages. 

Textiles and zines from elementary and secondary students intermingle with artwork from the Artists for Kids Permanent Collection and featured works by artists Whess Harman, Hannah Jickling and Reed H. Reed, Guná Jenson, and Cindy Mochizuki.

If you would like to explore Playhouse, you can do so using this 3D virtual matterport tour! You can travel through the art gallery and learn more about each artwork in the exhibition.

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is FULL - please email cpinard@sd44.ca to put your name on the waitlist.

The program fee for North Vancouver School District classes is covered by NVSD.

Registration for out-of-district schools opens September 24, 2024 12:00 pm (noon)

The pricing for classes outside of NVSD is as follows:

TOUR + WORKSHOP (4 hours of instructional time plus 1 hour break time)

Up to 30 students + up to 4 chaperones + materials

Standard fee: $500

Access 1 fee: $400

Access 2 fee: $250

For more information on the new pricing structure for out-of-district schools click here.

Self-Guided Tours of Playhouse

Artists for Kids invites K-12 teachers to use the Gordon Smith Gallery as their classroom, by booking a time to bring a class for a half day self-guided tour at our fall exhibition, Playhouse.

This is a unique opportunity for your students to engage directly with diverse works by Canadian artists and to learn through the lens of the arts.

Teachers can book self-guided tour slots (morning or afternoon) that are available on dates in October - February.  You can book your class by calling 604-903-3798.

We encourage teachers to attend an orientation of Playhouse prior to visiting with your class. 

Self-Guided Instructions and Gallery Expectations