The Vancouver Arts Hub will host three courses this spring with professional artist Tom Relth, owner of Vancouver’s Above & Below Art Studio. It’s just one of many artistic and cultural opportunities unfolding at the new hub, said theARTScentered executive director Christine Richardson. The hub occupies the former home of Fort Vancouver Regional Library District headquarters, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. The city of Vancouver owns the building but partners with theARTScentered, a nonprofit arts organization founded in 2021, to offer programming there. That includes providing space for arts groups or individual artists like Relth to hold classes. “We began programing the activity in the building March 2024, and it has not been empty since,” Richardson said in an email.

However, the Arts Hub is open to the public only on the first Friday of every month in conjunction with downtown Vancouver’s First Friday Art Walks. Visitors can view the rotating exhibit in the center’s front gallery or participate in special events, such as the celebration of Vietnamese art and culture that occurred in January and February. On March 7, the center showcased the art and cultures of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The showcase will continue from 5 to 8 p.m. April 4. Relth said that his classes are open to anyone interested in art, including amateur artists and beginners. Students will explore painting techniques, learn about art history and create their own art. “I do a critique method where people are strengthened and encouraged rather than chopped up into little pieces,” Relth said. “This is more about experimentation and strengthening your repertoire. It’s the fundamentals of art that you should have taken but never did — structures and basics done in a new way where it’s fun and broadening.” Options include two nine-week courses about art history and design concepts and a five-week digital photography course. The price is $333 for the nine-week classes and $170 for the five-week class. All classes require a 50 percent deposit. Some supplies are covered, though students will need to purchase most of their own materials. Relth said he would provide a “shopping list” of supplies, offering suggestions for minimum-quality materials as well as professional-quality supplies. Relth said the total class price might be high but it’s commensurate with other art courses of the same caliber.

Photo “It’s supported by university-level teaching, classroom materials and handouts and a huge collection of projections,” said Relth, who has a master’s degree in fine art from California State University. He has taught fine art and art history at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., and established fine art and digital art programs at the American International School in Casablanca, Morocco. More recently, he served on the boards of the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society and Artstra. He said that a portion of the class price goes to support future arts programs at theARTScentered. After the courses conclude, the public is invited to attend a free First Friday showcase from 5 to 8 p.m. June 6 highlighting artworks made by the students.

Other classes or groups meeting at the Arts Hub include the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society’s “Painting the Northwest” with Ron Stocke on April 28-30 and a fall class taught by Angela Wrahtz from Sept. 10-12. Columbia FiberArts Guild also hosts a group at the center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month. Richardson said the theARTScentered is “currently working on public summer class opportunities.”