The Art & Technology LAB is a teaching space located next to New Media Gallery. Public, school, and professional artist programs are offered throughout the year. Here we focus on encouraging a broad understanding of how technology can be used for creative purposes, pedagogy, critical thinking and the creation of meaning; and we have fun! All program and event descriptions are available below and registration is through The City of New Westminster booking page.
Ben Bogart (they/them) is a neurodivergent non-binary agender adisciplinary artist working for 25 years with generative computational processes (including physical modelling, chaotic equations, feedback systems, evolutionary algorithms, computer vision and machine learning) and has been inspired by knowledge in the natural sciences (quantum physics and cognitive neuroscience) in the service of an epistemological inquiry.
Ben enjoys tickling various mosses, can eat a lemon slice including peel without flinching, and if they had to be a bird would love to be a swallow.
Ben is a settler of Dutch and French ancestry and lives and works on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̍əm (Musqueam), Sk̠wx̠wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) First Peoples, also known as Vancouver.
Ben will be creating in New Media Gallery from March 15, 2026 to September 30th, 2026.
Check back for more information
LAB & Outreach
OpenLAB (Ages 12+)
Design your own art projects by creating with different technologies. Expert technicians support you as you pursue your new media projects. Explore video, music, 3D modeling and printing, robotics, coding and animation. OpenLAB is designed for those who have some media arts experience.
Experiment with an array of media equipment including PCs, Macs, iPads, audio interfaces, midi key boards, 3D printers, robotics, and cameras. Our more specialized equipment and consumables are reserved for a fee.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Details
Anvil Centre 604.515.3834
Saturday, 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Free to attend
5 Hours of 3D Printing: $5
Use of Professional Computer (TouchDesigner, DaVinci Resolve, Unreal Engine, etc.) = $10
One on One with Specialist Technician: Inquire at OpenLAB
Kids and caregivers learn about Artificial Intelligence together through engaging projects and play. Create your own teachable machines through prompts. Collaborate with various gaming and music tools. This workshop is designed for children accompanied by an adult. Instructor: Sara Korzec.
Learn about stop motion animation by bringing characters to life. Join our artist-instructors as they lead students are led through the process and complete short animated films to share. Instructor: Stéphane Bernard.
Create exciting hand drawn and digital animations of your characters and stories from your imagination. Learn about the apps and programs that support your creativity. Show your animated triumphs to friends and family. Instructor: Maya Patrich.
Increase your animation skills by introducing 3D modeling to the mix. Make characters jump off the page and communicate important stories. Create animated films to share with friends and families.
Learn how to make sounds using midi keyboards and tablets. Express your musical creativity with multi-instrument tracks and virtual instruments. Make audio collages and soundtracks for video or sound-based projects. Instructor: Stephane Bernard.
Step into the world of game design! Create pixel art characters, compose retro-inspired music, and build playable games using beginner-friendly tools. Learn coding, storytelling, and design skills and bring ideas to life. Specialist Instructors mentor female-identifying-students to explore cutting-edge technologies in a supportive environment. Instructor: hope akello.
Discover the basic working principle of AI and its immense potential through hands-on projects and collaborative learning activities. This program is designed to welcome older adults and those who may be new to digital technologies, offering a supportive environment where everyone can learn at their own pace while embracing the transformative potential of AI.
Learn the basics on how to create sound using synthesizers and a computer. Compose unique pieces of music using midi keyboards and modular synthesizers. Create custom sounds to express your own musical works of art.
New Media Gallery Exhibition Tours are developed for a range of ages and interested; schools, universities, and special interest groups and special events as well as general public tours. Tours are led by a Curator or Curatorial Programmer and may be booked in advance.
Exhibition Tour | 30 – 60 min | Free
Creative Tech Workshops
Our workshops integrate ideas from the exhibition together with BC’s new Core Curriculum. Big Ideas inform each exciting 1.5 – 3 hour Workshop where a focus on process and inquiry-based learning are key. Encouraging and building on a vibrant & dynamic process of creativity and imagination in workshop situations is our thing; we champion individual and collective brainstorming and focused play!
For more details on our Creative Tech Workshops, view our School Programs brochure
Creative Tech Workshop | 90 – 120 min | Cost: $170 (includes tour + pre-activity) (For young children, we may be able to offer a separate space for break time)
Camps
Adventure Animation Camp (7-12 yrs)
Go on exciting trips across the community, discovering local attractions, hidden gems, and recreational hot spots. The other half of the day participants will explore the world of animation and all its creative possibilities. Experiment with cut paper, drawings and music to make unique stories.
Learn how to build soft and expressive puppets and have them star in your next movie. Transport your puppets to different worlds using special effects like green screens. Screen your finished films for friends and family. Instructor: Louise Lathey.
