The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, formerly the Burnaby Arts Centre, is a part of a history of support and commitment to the celebration and showcasing of art in all disciplines — performing arts, the visual arts, and the literary arts in Burnaby.
The naming of the facility, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, is a reflection of the Centre's dedication to the Arts and the community of Burnaby. The Shadbolt Centre has been named after two Burnaby residents who dedicated a lifetime of support and cultivation of the arts locally, nationally, and internationally.
Doris and Jack Shadbolt resided in Burnaby for over 50 years until Jack's death in November 1998. Doris Shadbolt has spent her life's work bringing the artist and the audience closer together through her writing and curatorial work. Jack Shadbolt, an internationally recognized Canadian painter, is represented in Canadian and American public, private, and corporate collections. He was also an author and both received many awards, including the Order of Canada. In keeping with the Shadbolts' generosity the arts, Jack Shadbolt donated two of his paintings to the Centre for permanent display.
“What is important about the Shadbolt is that it is a non-competitive environment, it’s very supportive, and nurturing.”
- Jennifer, dance parent
