Burnaby Art Gallery (BAG) offers a variety of curriculum-based programs for school groups and home-learners of all ages. The programs encourage creative thinking, conversation and developing new skills through exploring art mediums and processes inspired by works on exhibit and art from the City's Permanent Art Collection.
BAG has a strong relationship with the Burnaby School District (SD41) that's built around innovative and inclusive programs like our annual Arts Alive student exhibitions and the Artist Apprenticeship Program. Our long-standing partnership has ensured all students within the district have access to experience an art gallery setting.
Book your classroom for a gallery tour and explore the programs we offer for students and educators.
School programs for the classroom
BAG’s outreach programs are designed to bring original artwork and art supplies right into your classrooms!
We offer in-person and virtual programs that fit into your curriculum needs and class times. Available for booking between October and June.
To book an Outreach Program, fill out an booking form and email it to [email protected].
Programs
Forest For The Trees
Mondays, Grades K-7
Art Education, Ecology, Indigenous Art
Explore the world of landscape-inspired artwork through this engaging program. Using the forms of trees, waterways and mountains, students discuss ideas of landscape and place. Building on these ideas, participants use techniques of layering, colour mixing and collage to create a ‘forest’ of trees.
Coast Salish Contemporary
Tuesdays, Grades K-7
Indigenous Art, Ecology/Environment, Art Education
Referencing works from the City's Permanent Collection, participants explore the progression of themes and technique in contemporary Coast Salish art. Discussions on appropriation and use of copyrighted work will be discussed within this program. Students will finish the workshop by creating their own collograph print.
Structures & Cities
Wednesdays, Grades K-7
Art Education, Social Studies, Geography, Math, Design, STEAM
Imagine, balance, construct, and combine materials to create an exciting mini city. Through a sculpture approach, students learn about architecture and design to support and build their structures. This workshop applies a horizontal learning approach to engage multiple subjects, encouraging students to get creative.
Tantalizing Tessellations: Exploring the Work of Dylan Thomas
Thursdays, Grades 2-7
Art Education, Earth Science, Indigenous Art, Math, STEAM
Discover the interwoven worlds of math and art. Using tessellations as a foundation, each workshop explores the pattern making and mathematical elements of design work. Workshops examine the work of Dylan Thomas, a Coast Salish contemporary artist, and how he has connected math and geometry to his art practice.
Coastal Waters
Fridays, Grades 2-7
Art Education, Earth Science, Indigenous Art
Join us in exploring the complexity of the BC coastline. Students are immersed in ideas of interconnection, ecosystems, water cycles and shoreline wildlife, inspired by works from City of Burnaby's Permanent Collection. Using watercolour, drawing and collage, students develop individual mixed-media works.
Fees
Part-day outreach (1.5 hour program)
| In-person | Virtual | |
|---|---|---|
|
Zone A Schools: Burnaby School District Minimum 2 workshops booked per school per day. |
$115 per class |
$115 per class No delivery fee |
|
Zone B Schools: New Westminster, Vancouver (east of Main), Coquitlam, Port Moody Minimum 3 workshops booked per school per day. |
$120 per class |
$115 per class $10 delivery fee |
|
Zone C Schools: Vancouver (west of Main), North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, West Vancouver, Delta Minimum 3 workshops booked per school per day. |
$125 per class |
$115 per class $15 delivery fee |
Students are invited on an instructor-led tour through the current exhibition, followed by a hands-on art workshop. Participants learn how to engage with art using hands-on techniques, while developing observational and art-language skills.
To book a Gallery Tour, fill out an booking form and email it to [email protected].
Find out more about our current exhibition
Art & Me
October 1, 2022-June 4, 2023
Preschool and kindergarten
This active tour is perfect for busy minds and bodies, introducing the world of art, artists and art galleries. Children learn about simple artistic concepts and are encouraged to express their ideas about the artwork verbally, physically and visually. In the studio, magic happens as kids experiment with creating lift prints.
Fees
Days of the week available: Wednesdays and Thursdays. Program capacity varies.
| Length | Price | |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool-K: Art & Me |
1.5 hours |
$85 |
|
Grades K-2 |
1.5 hours |
$95 |
|
Grades 2-12 |
2 hours |
$110 |
|
Guided Tour without studio (K-12) |
30 minutes-1 hour |
$50 |
Lesson planning is made easy with BAG in a Box!
3 unique educational kits are available, featuring original artwork by local artists, resource materials, art supplies and detailed lesson plans for theme-based art-making activities in your classroom.
Suitable for Grades K-7.
Available for booking October 1, 2022 to June 23, 2023.
To book BAG in a Box, fill out an booking form and email it to [email protected].
Anna's Printing Press
Find inspiration and explore artistic techniques, subjects and themes featured in the works of Chinese Canadian master printmaker, Anna Wong. These include nature prints, exercises in abstraction, travel themes, and mixed media projects.
The Printmaker’s Pets
Discover relief printmaking techniques, drawing and mixed-media, while exploring how printmakers portray cats, dogs, birds, and more.
Cultural Portraits
Investigate how an artist’s expression reflects their identity and culture and the role visual art plays in reflecting or challenging traditions.
Fees
Pick up on Saturdays, return on Fridays or Saturdays
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Cost for 3 weeks |
$30 |
|
Refundable deposit |
$60 |
Teachers and upcoming graduates
The Burnaby Art Gallery offers a number of Career Placement opportunities for secondary students (grades 11-12).
For further information about these programs, please contact the programming department at 604-297-4858.
Artist Apprenticeship Program
January 13, 20, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10 and April 14, 2023, 9 am-3 pm
Free (participation required for all 9 sessions)
Senior secondary students take on the role of a professional artist to create an exhibition in the gallery. Guided by practicing artists, curators, and programmers, students create artwork and learn how to develop and promote their show. Artwork is produced from March 13 to April 30 with regular check-ins by programming staff. Volunteer hours accrued may be used towards career placement programs.
The Artist Apprenticeship exhibition will be presented in the upper gallery of the Burnaby Art Gallery in Spring 2023. In this program, student apprentices are expected to actively participate in the group–producing artwork, and experimenting outside their artistic comfort zones.
Arts Alive Career Placement
March-May 2023
Free
Arts Alive is an annual showcase of works by students held in collaboration with the Burnaby School District. This year’s exhibition highlights work by elementary students from across the city. The following career placement positions are available: Photo Documenter, Virtual Gallery Creator, and Label Management positions. In these positions, students learn behind-the-scene processes of developing an exhibition.
BAG Career Placement
September 2022-June 2023
Free
Our Career Placement positions offer experience in program delivery and community engagement in a professional art gallery setting. Highest availability is during summer and spring break, but hours and positions vary. Please call 604-297-4413 to find out more.
Burnaby Art Gallery offers resources for teachers to use in the classroom or for professional development.
Out of the BAG
Learn more about our permanent collection by exploring our art modules designed for at home or at school creativity!
Suitable for adults, families and schools using materials easily sourced.
Step Out of the BAG today!
Virtual exhibits and lesson plans
- Takao Tanabe: Chronicles of Form and Place
Landscape, watercolour, line, colour, value and composition (English and French)
Professional development workshops are offered through the year. Please contact us to book or ask about additional offerings.
Educators' Art Workshop
Monday, September 26 and January 16, 4:30-6:30 pm
$21.30 each night
Want to learn more about our school outreaches? Then join us for our Educator's Art Workshops. These relaxed evenings will feature an outreach workshop, light refreshments and a chance to talk with the BAG programming staff! To register please call 604-297-4422.
Book a school program at BAG
To book a school program or to request more information about the programs available, please contact:
- Booking Coordinator (available Tuesdays-Thursdays)
Phone: 604-297-4414
Email: [email protected]
Booking forms
Burnaby Art Gallery
Contact Us
- General Inquiries
- 604-297-4422
- Fax
- 604-205-7339
- [email protected]
Hours:
Admission
Suggested donation is $5
Public transit
Visit Translink Trip Planner.
Parking
- The Burnaby Art Gallery offers 3-hour free parking with a total of 44 available public parking stalls, including two accessible parking spots.
- 2 electric vehicle spaces are available on Deer Lake Avenue.
- Deer Lake Avenue also has some street parking. After business hours, there may be additional free parking areas at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Burnaby Village Museum.
Accessibility
- There are two designated parking stalls provided in the surface parking next to the gallery entrance.
- There is a paved path leading to a wheelchair lift that provides access to the main floor of the Burnaby Art Gallery. The lift is located to the left of the front entrance. The second level is not wheelchair accessible.
- There is a wheelchair accessible washroom located on the main floor.
Administration hours
Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-4:30 pm