Fernie & Elk Valley Culture Guide Fall 2019 Edition | Page 28

ARTS & CULTURAL HUB THE ARTS STATION Live Concerts & Shows A vibrant and engaging space for the creative community in Fernie featuring all disciplines of the arts for visitors and locals alike. The Arts Station has a varied program of entertainment and activities throughout the year including live concerts, screenings, workshops, theatre, art shows, and creative classes for all ages. LIVING HISTORY IN A HERITAGE BUILDING From 1898 to 1964, the Canadian Pacific Railway station was the economic and social hub of the community. The current station building was completed in the spring of 1909 after an earlier incarnation burned down in the Great Fire of 1908. The CPR donated the disused building to the City of Fernie and in 1987 the Fernie Arts Council began the four-year process of moving the building onto a new foundation and completely renovating the dilapidated structure. The former waiting room became the foyer gallery and every other space found new life as studios, 28 event space, and even a restaurant. The Arts Station opened in 1990 as an indispensable base for artists in the Elk Valley.