Library, filmmakers team up to offer educational hub for aspiring digital artists

Calling all digital artists! The Blue Mountains Public Library (BMPL) is offering up a new resource to help you explore, learn and create in the digital world.

“Want to write, direct and produce a short film? We have the training and tools to help you do that,” says Tracy Strnad, creative director at the Blue Mountains Creator Space Digital Arts Lab. “Want to write and record a podcast? We can help. Want to record your first song? Come to us. Want to learn how to animate a 3D character? Helping people gain confidence in how to start or master a project or skill is one of our goals.”

The BMPL has teamed up with the Blue Mountains Creator Space to offer residents of South Georgian Bay the Digital Arts Lab.

“We know that people are interested in photography and film and learning that but that kind of equipment is expensive, and where can you go to learn some of these skills and try out some of this equipment? Well, now Blue Mountain residents have this digital arts lab,” says Sabrina Saunders, CEO of the BMPL.

The digital arts lab is a state-of-the-art facility stacked with the tools and resources to learn and master digital video, sound, photography and design. It offers a variety of workshops, lab rentals and equipment borrowing.

“Many people interested in the arts, especially the digital arts, have great and inspiring ideas but they don’t know where or how to start their projects,” Strnad says. “Oftentimes, there is a barrier to accessing equipment and the knowledge required to undertake a digital art project such as a film, podcast, music recording, or animation project.”

The digital arts lab consists of four workstations that can be reserved online for use. Workstation software includes the Adobe Creative Suite, Blackmagic Resolve Studio, Autodesk Maya, Avid Media Composer and Final Draft.

“We host weekly workshops, after school programs, as well as monthly artist-led lectures called, ‘DIGITALKS’ that will teach digital art skills and techniques, instructed by professional artists and industry experts,” Strnad explains.

The digital arts lab team includes Tracey Strnad, who has worked as a commercial film director since 2011; Tom Strnad, acclaimed film producer and owner, operator of the Mountain Goat Film Company; photographer, Tjalling Halbertsma; veteran cartoonist, Ben McMillian; and Josh Maitland, professional musician, producer and owner of Red Room Recordings.

Registered members are able to borrow a wide array of digital art equipment, including a Blackmagic 4K digital cinema camera, a Canon 6D full-frame digital photography camera, a GoPro Fusion 360 camera, LED lighting panels, and a portable sound recording kit featuring a Zoom H4N 4 channel recorder.

The lab also offers a complete digital sound recording studio featuring a 12-channel input Apollo X8 interface, a variety of microphones, as well as Cubase Pro 10 and ProTools Ultimate Software, that can be used to record music, produce podcasts, and mix films and videos.

“The Creator Space’s goal is to limit that knowledge gap, and to open up access to equipment so that more people can confidently create digital art. We also want to help analogue artists transition into the digital world,” says Strnad.

Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund, the lab is located on the lower level of the Marsh Street Centre at 187 Marsh Street in Clarksburg. Membership is free for local residents but does require registration and a BMPL card. Some of the equipment may also require demonstrated proficiency of use.

“Some of the equipment rentals require you to take the course, which is a few hours,” Saunders explains. “The lab will then sign off that you have been trained on the equipment and you come here to L.E. Shores and borrow the equipment. Whether it is for learning, a career path or even for a family or special event.”

Strnad says the partnership with the BMPL was a natural fit as the library is, “always looking to provide residents with knowledge and inspiration.”

“Libraries go much beyond books, and are central hubs of innovation for the community. The BMPL’s staff offer an exceptionally innovative library experience, and their openness to innovation is what attracts projects and partnerships like The Blue Mountains Creator Space Digital Arts Lab,” Strnad says.

The Digital Arts Lab’s current exhibit, This is your brain on digital art, invites artists from across the South Georgian Bay to submit digital works of art, which can be anything from digital photography and video to 3D animation or digital recordings. The deadline for submissions is March 20. Selected entries will be displayed from April 4 to 29 at the Blue Mountains Library Gallery. For more information, visit: tbmcreatorspace.com.