Illustration of a community space with people enjoying a market and socializing, promoting a renovation campaign for 2025-2026 to build a warmer, safer, and more inclusive space for everyone.
Group of nine diverse people standing together, smiling, inside a room with a yellow wall, some wearing T-shirts with a neighborhood house logo.
Logo for Arts Umbrella featuring a yellow triangular umbrella with black accent, with the text "ARTS UMBRELLA" and the slogan "Inspiring creativity. For good."

  • Arts Umbrella is a non-profit arts education centre dedicated to inspiring young people through visual arts, dance, and theatre. With a belief that art can transform lives, they offer high-quality, accessible programming to children and youth across Metro Vancouver—regardless of financial barriers.

  • At the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, Arts Umbrella delivers weekly creative workshops on Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:00 PM for children ages 7 to 11. These sessions focus on visual arts and are designed to encourage self-expression, imagination, and hands-on learning.

  • Led by experienced instructors, each session provides a safe and welcoming space for children from the neighbourhood to build confidence, discover their creative voices, and share in the joy of making art together.

    “I love when we get to mix colours and make something that’s totally ours. It makes me feel like a real artist!” — Youth Participant

    This partnership exemplifies our shared commitment to cultivating connection, confidence, and creativity for the next generation.

A graphic design with a large distressed black letter 'K' on a grid background, the words 'IDS ITCHEN' in green and orange text, and a black apron with a heart in the center, representing ideas related to cooking or catering.

KIDS IN MOTION

  • Our Partnership

    • Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House (DTES NH): A non-profit organization aiming to provide community programs and equitable access to fresh food in low-income communities.

    • Kids Kitchen Program:

      • A food-centered initiative.

      • Promotes food literacy and fosters children’s self-empowerment.

      • Encourages kids’ active participation in kitchen tasks.

    Why It Matters

    • Involving kids in the kitchen supports community food security and engagement.

    • Provides educational materials for both staff and children.

    • Promotes food literacy with a cultural variety of nutritious foods.

    The Issue

    • There is an opportunity to increase food literacy resources and activities to enhance the Kids Kitchen Program.

    Our Approach

    • Conducted research and literature review.

    • Carried out site visits and student interviews.

    • Assessed barriers and purpose.

    • Designed 11 different activities.

    • Evaluated each activity individually.

  • What We Found

    Neighbourhood House Visit

    • Zoom interviews + 1 in-person session.

    • Multilingual, multicultural participants with varied learning abilities.

    • 11 Activities were created to be:

      • Accessible for different language and physical abilities.

      • Visually engaging.

      • Educational and food-related.

      • Culturally sensitive.

    Literature Review – Wellness of Refugee Families

    • Shared economic situations can increase a sense of belonging.

    • Refugee families may face unstable living conditions.

    • Learning can be stressful and should not be forced.

    Kids Kitchen Feedback

    • Children successfully shared their knowledge of seasonal and cultural foods.

    • High participation in visual activities like scavenger hunts and word searches.

  • Sample Activity: “Around the World!”

    • Children match an image of a cultural food item to its country of origin.

    • This activity promotes:

      • Food-centered cultural inclusivity.

      • Curiosity and exploration.

      • Diversity.

      • Interactivity and inclusion for various abilities.

    Next Steps

    • Continue supporting the Kids Kitchen Program in empowering children’s food engagement.

    • Implement additional educational activities in future sessions.

    References

    1. DTES Neighbourhood House. (2022).

    2. Sim, A. (2021). Increasing belonging among refugee families.

    3. Sim, A. (2021). Holistic care for refugees: Learning conditions and stakeholder perspectives.

ACCESSIBILITY
STATEMENT

Our space @ 573 East Hastings Street is accessible:

  • Front door: 34 inch width

  • No steps at entrance

  • Washroom door: 31 inch width

  • Toilet: 12 inch clearance on left side

  • The washroom has a handrail and is accessible to all genders.

Thank you message with a call to action to click, featuring large blue text that says "Thank you for your continued support" and a stylized blue hand clicking on the word "Click."