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 D12, D13, D16, F7, FX2, FX3, FX4, FX8 and the Blue Rapid Transit line.

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 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 D12, D13, D19, F6, F7, FX4 and Blue Rapid Transit line. The F5 and F6 bus stops are also located a few blocks east of the mall.

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.

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There are several entrances to the mall. The most direct entrance are the Portage Place Offices doors on Portage Avenue, just west of Edmonton Street. This entrance is stair-free and one of the doors is power-operated by pushing a button.

Other entrances along the mall are:

• Rear doors, accessed from the north side of building
• Kennedy Street (off of Portage Ave, from south)

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 or stairs to the second floor. Elevators are located near the Edmonton entrance (seen forward to the right when entering) or near the rear doors.

Stairs are located in the main hall, visible ahead when you enter through the Edmonton entrance past the elevators.

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When you reach the second floor by stairs or elevator, turn right and you will be able to locate Studio Central on the south side of the mall (across from Ardene).

Studio Central now shares a space with Upbeat Artworks and can be found to the right when entering.

When you arrive at Studio Central, a volunteer receptionist will take your name (or nickname) this is so we are able to track the number of daily visitors.

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 half door at the back of the space next to the green counter.

Studio Central does not serve any food or drink. (A small supply of juice boxes are sometimes available for emergencies.) There is a restaurant across the mall from Studio Central on the second floor, and others on Portage Avenue nearby the mall. A Shopper’s Drug Mart can also be found on the first level of Portage Place.

Public washrooms are available on the second floor of the mall. To access head to the west side of the building and continue down the hall (as if headed for the skywalk), then turn right at the first hallway. Washrooms can be found outside the YMCA-YWCA Winnipeg entrance. 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 D12, D13, D19, F6, F7, FX4 and Blue Rapid Transit line. The F5 and F6 bus stops are also located a few blocks east of the mall.

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.

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There are several entrances to the mall. The most direct entrance are the Portage Place Offices doors on Portage Avenue, just west of Edmonton Street. This entrance is stair-free and one of the doors is power-operated by pushing a button.

Other entrances along the mall are:

• Rear doors, accessed from the north side of building
• Kennedy Street (off of Portage Ave, from south)

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 or stairs to the second floor. Elevators are located near the Edmonton entrance (seen forward to the right when entering) or near the rear doors.

Stairs are located in the main hall, visible ahead when you enter through the Edmonton entrance past the elevators.

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When you reach the second floor by stairs or elevator, turn right and you will be able to locate Upbeat Artworks on the south side of the mall (across from Ardene).

Upbeat Artworks now shares a space with Studio Central and can be found to the left when entering.

Upbeat’s floors are tiled, and level. 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 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 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. 

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.