The Arts Station
It is hard to imagine that an old railway
station built in 1908 in a small corner
of British Columbia would today be
the source for foot-stomping concerts,
mouth-watering hotcakes and aweinspiring paintings. If you’ve ever
visited The Arts Station in Fernie,
though, you’ll know it to be true. The
Arts Station is the heart of the arts
in Fernie, a place where hundreds of
painters, weavers, guitarists and guilders
gather to expand their talents and
inspire one another in a way that almost
always involves community. Th e Arts
Station is a home amongst artists and
art-lovers, a place where anyone can
take a moment to think quietly about a
painting on the brick mantelpiece or sip
on martinis while dancing to folk rock.
Originally a Canadian Pacific Railway
station, the building suffered from
vandalism and overall wear for decades
before a refurbishing in 1990 — led by
a group of volunteers — brought it to
its current valuable state. Today the
main lobby acts as a gallery space with
new artists featured each month and
the original ticket office is home to
the inviting Blue Toque Diner. The old
luggage room is a 100-seat theatre and
the basement is a potters’ delight.
Having celebrated 25 years in
November 2015, the Station has
established its place in the local arts
community. The many people behind
it play host to the popular outdoor
summer concert series and socials,
festivals, film screenings, presentations,
art classes and workshops, and even the
occasional wedding or birthday party.
Flowers bloom from barrels on the
wraparound deck in the summer and it
is a cozy space for an acoustic set when
the snow falls. No matter the time of
year, there is always something going
on at The Arts Station. Be sure to make
it a part of your visit to Fernie.
601 1st Ave | 250-423-4842
theartsstation.com
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