PuSh Festival co-founder Norman Armour has been tapped to direct “Pauline”, the first opera to feature a libretto by Canadian literary star Margaret Atwood, City Opera Vancouver president Nora Kelly announced today.

“Pauline” is a first foray into opera by Armour as well as Atwood, while the score is by Tobin Stokes, whose operatic credits include “Rattenbury”, “Fallujah” and “The Vinedressers”.

Gentrification is typically associated with change in inner city housing markets. The goal of this speaker series is to advance some wider perspectives on gentrification, recognizing that housing change is only one aspect of this broader social and economic process.

As part of the speaker series Gentrification and the City hosted by SFU's Department of Urban Studies, a lecture on gentrification and the arts will be presented. 

Gentrification and the arts

Proposed amendments to the zoning and development by-law to support artist studios in industrial areas have been unanimously approved by Vancouver City Council. 

In response to issues of affordability, shortage and loss of studios, and clarity and flexibility of regulations, the policy report was issued January 7 requesting an application to amend the by-law to expand opportunities for "work-only" artist studios in all industrial districts, and was referred to a February 5 public hearing. 

Registration deadlines are closing in, but do not miss an opportunity to enroll in one of the two new online courses offered by the UBC Centre for Cultural Planning and Development starting on April 2, 2013. Save $100 on registrations received by March 15.

Courses starting April 2: 

Festivals, Events, and Eventful Communities
Apr 2-Jun 2, 100% online. Registration closes Mar 25.

Register now for the 34th Annual ArtsBC Conference & AGM from May 3 to 4 at the Vernon Community Arts Centre in Vernon, BC. The conference, hosted by the Arts Council of the North Okanagan is the place to get connected and find ideas and solutions to ensure the vitality of your organization and the arts in your community.

The City of Richmond and the Board of Directors for the Richmond Art Gallery Association welcomed Rachel Rosenfield Lafo as the new director of the Richmond Art Gallery, effective February 12, 2013. 

Lafo's many years of experience as a museum administrator and curator include a position as director of curatorial affairs at the DeCordova Sculpture Park + Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and as associate curator at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is launching a residency program that will provide studio space for artists and / or artist collectives at no charge in exchange for community arts based engagement.

Eligibility: This call is open to artists, artist collectives and arts organizations working in the artistic disciplines of environmental and performing arts.

Submission Deadline: March 27, 2013 - 4:00 p.m. PST