access information

There is no dedicated parking for artists or visitors, but there is a paid parkade about half a block away and paid metered parking in front of the building and on streets nearby. Parking at meters is free for one hour during the day, and for unlimited time after 5:30 pm. There are bus stops within a few blocks serviced by the 16, 17, 18, 20, 31, 32, 35, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 65, and 66. 

There is one step at the main entrance of the building, followed by three steps with a railing on the right side leading up to the elevator (on the left). The front door is not power-operated and not lightweight. It has a clear width of 33 inches/84 cm. If you will need assistance opening the door, please call 204-943-5194 and a staff member can meet you. 

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An entrance with a gradual slope to level threshold is available on the south side of the building (to the left of front entrance) in an adjacent gravel parking lot. This door is not power operated and is locked at all times. If you would like to use this entrance, please phone the studio before you arrive and someone will meet you downstairs to open the door. This door has a clear width of 33.5 inches/85 cm.

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From that door, you round the corner to the right to get to the elevator. There is a fully glass wall and door between this entrance and the elevator. The glass door is almost always propped open. There is a clear width in the doorway of 33 inches/84 cm. The lobby has low-pile carpet, and may also have rubberized carpet mats laid overtop at some times.

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Artbeat Studio is accessible by elevator with raised numbers and braille, and no audible floor announcements. The elevator doors open to a clear width of 35 inches/89 cm.

You can take the elevator to the fourth floor and it opens directly into our lobby. If you’re coming for an event, this is where the artwork is displayed. If you are visiting for another reason, the receptionist will help you. 

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The reception counter is 42.5 inches/108 cm tall, but on the left end of the counter is a lower surface, 35 inches/89 cm above the floor.

If there is no receptionist at the desk, please come to the office on the right side of the lobby (pictured here in relation to the elevator door) and someone will be able to assist you. 

Flooring throughout the studio space is generally level. There is a combination of hardwood and tile, with a low-pile carpet laid on top of the hardwood into the lounge area.

Two gender-neutral large universal washrooms are available on the same floor but outside of the exhibit space, so if you’re here for an event this may   require alerting staff if needed. These washrooms have transfer space on the right side of the toilet and one grab bar on the left side. They have pedestal sinks with taps that must be turned. Paper towel dispensers may be too high to operate from a seated position; staff can make paper towels available before washroom use.  Doors open to a clear width of just over 29 inches/74 cm.

There is often a strong smell of incense in the elevator. This is due to tenants/visitors to other spaces in the building and outside of Artbeat’s control. Occasionally a beeswax candle is burned in the Artbeat space, usually in early afternoon. Artbeat regularly wipes down surfaces with “Lysol Advanced Disinfecting Wipes” in unscented or citrus varieties. If you are an incoming artist in residence, please communicate any sensitivities to the studio facilitator and the artists will work as a group to try to accommodate your needs during the residency.

There are several bus stops surrounding the mall, served by the 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 67 and Blue RapidTransit line.

Studio Central does not have dedicated parking available, but there is street parking available around the mall – one hour free on weekdays – as well as a paid underground parkade with stair and elevator access to the mall.

There are several entrances to the mall. The most direct entrance is the main door on Portage Avenue, even with Edmonton Street. 

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Main entrance, walking down Edmonton Street and crossing Portage Avenue.

At each entrance, one of the doors is power-operated by pushing a button.

Other entrances along the mall are:

• Rear doors, directly opposite the main entrance (between the elevators on the map below)
• Kennedy Street
• Carlton Street (food court entrance)
• from other downtown buildings via the Skywalk to the second floor

There is level, tiled floor throughout the mall that can be slippery when wet (like if people are walking around on a rainy or snowy day).

You can take an elevator, escalator, or stairs to the second floor. Elevators and escalators are located in the Edmonton court. You will see a large clock tower. The escalators are beside that tower, and the elevators are behind it, to either side of the back doors. Stairs are located to the west (left, if you are standing at the main entrance) from the Edmonton court. 

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When you reach the second floor on escalators or elevator, come towards the front of the mall, then turn left (around the corner from Dollarama). You will pass a dentists office and some empty storefronts; Studio Central will be on your right.

If taking the stairs, just continue in the same direction past Dollarama.

When you arrive at Studio Central, a volunteer receptionist will take your name in case it is needed for COVID contact tracing. Under current health orders, all visitors must show proof of COVID vaccination. We will ask for this at your first visit, then add you to a list so you do not have to show us your card/code every time.

Studio Central’s floors are tiled, and level. There are many hard surfaces in the space that may reflect sound. There is sometimes music playing in the mall that we cannot control the volume for or turn off, but it is not usually audible in the studio space. There is often a radio playing at Studio Central, but that can be turned off if needed.

Eight (8) artmaking tables are adjustable to different heights. Plastic chairs and tall stools, all with backs and no arms, are available for seating. 

The staff office, archives, and supply storage are through a door at the back of the space.

Studio Central does not serve any food or drink. (A small supply of juice boxes are available for emergencies.) There is a food court selling a variety of choices on the first floor of the mall. There are also restaurants located along the Skywalk near to Studio Central, or on Portage Avenue nearby the mall. Under current health orders, you must show proof of COVID vaccination to sit at the food court or restaurants, but most have takeout available to everyone.

Public washrooms are available on the ground floor of the mall, between the front entrance and the food court. There is a universal washroom that requires asking mall staff/security for the key. In the gendered washrooms, there is one accessible stall. This stall has transfer space on the right side of the toilet (left side if you were facing it), horizontal grab bars at the left and rear walls,  and no toilet seat/tank/back. The toilets are self-flushing. Sinks are automatic and hand dryers operate by button.

There are several bus stops surrounding the mall, served by the 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 67 and Blue RapidTransit line.

Upbeat does not have dedicated parking available for volunteers or visitors, but there is street parking available around the mall as well as a paid underground parkade with stair and elevator access to the mall.

There are several entrances to the mall. The most direct entrance is the main door on Portage Avenue, even with Edmonton Street.

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Main entrance, walking down Edmonton Street and crossing Portage Avenue.

At each entrance, one of the doors is power-operated by pushing a button.

Other entrances along the mall are:

• Rear doors, directly opposite the main entrance (between the elevators on the map below)
• Kennedy Street
• Carlton Street (food court entrance)
• from other downtown buildings via the Skywalk to the second floor

There is level, tiled floor throughout the mall. It can be slippery when wet (like if people are walking through on a rainy or snowy day).

You can take an elevator, escalator, or stairs to the second floor. Elevators and escalators are located in Edmonton court. You will see a large clock tower. The escalators are beside that tower, and the elevators are behind it, to either side of the back doors. Stairs are located to the west (left, if you are standing at the main entrance) from Edmonton court. 

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When you reach the second floor on escalators or elevator, come towards the front of the mall, then turn left (around the corner from Dollarama). You will pass a dentists office, some empty storefronts, and Studio Central; Upbeat will be on your left.

If taking the stairs, just continue in the same direction past Dollarama.

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Next to Upbeat is a nail salon that uses various chemicals. The smell does drift out of that salon and may be noticeable in the hallway. 

A glass wall closes Upbeat off from the mall. If you are facing the store, the rightmost panel is pushed aside, leaving an open space to enter through. The threshold is level, but there is a metal track for the door just inside the space.

Upbeat’s floors are level with low-pile carpet. There is some colour contrast between walls and floors. Clear spaces and paths to the counter are defined, but there are displays throughout the space. Volunteers can move these easily if they are in someone’s way.

There are hard surfaces in the space that may reflect sound. There is music playing in the mall that we cannot control the volume for or turn off, and there is also usually music playing in Upbeat. That volume can be adjusted by staff or volunteers. 

There is no seating available for customers/visitors. If you are volunteering, there are two tall stools with no arms or backs, and cushioned tops, to sit on behind the counter. There are also molded plastic chairs with a back and no arms available for demonstrating volunteers or to sit in front of the counter.

The counter is 45 inches/114 cm high, and there is no lower area. If you are a customer and this counter is too high, a volunteer can come around the counter to take your cash or bring you the POS system to pay with your card. 

Upbeat does not have its own washroom. Public washrooms are available on the ground floor of the mall, between the front entrance and the food court. There is a universal washroom that requires asking mall staff/security for the key. In the gendered washrooms, there is one accessible stall. This stall has transfer space on the right side of the toilet (left side if you were facing it), horizontal grab bars at the left and rear walls,  and no toilet seat/tank/back. The toilets are self-flushing. Sinks are automatic and hand dryers operate by button.