The Arts and Heritage district has become a hub of activity in St. Albert, and at the heart of it you’ll find the Visual Arts Studio Association. Started in 2007, it originally spread out over three different places across the city. In 2012, the association converted the old RCMP building into 19 studios and centralized all the resident artists in one location, providing more exposure for their work. “We have a main gallery that we swap out every month,” says Carla Beerens, a board member and one of the resident artists. “When people come to see the main gallery they can also walk through all the studios. So people can see what’s hanging on our walls and what’s in the main studio.”
There are 22 resident artists here and the Visual Arts Studio Association holds workshops and lectures to inspire their growth and success. “It’s a unique place even in Alberta,”says Carla. “We have other artist-run studios, but few have as many resident artists.”
