The Cultch unveils the Christopher Wootten Stage at Vancity Culture Lab
The Cultch is thrilled to announce a new name for the stage at the Vancity Culture Lab. In honour of The Cultch’s founder, the stage will now be known as the Christopher Wootten Stage at Vancity Culture Lab. A new plaque was unveiled October 13, 2026, at a private event.
Christopher Wootten founded the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in 1973 and served as its Executive Director until 1982. His dedication and passion for the arts established a strong foundation for what has become a beloved Vancouver institution. The Cultch, as it was affectionately named by Chris’s wife Libby, is the legacy of a visionary person who gathered like-minded people around him to create a space filled with possibilities.
The Cultch is also announcing the creation of a new fund to support work and residencies that take place on the Christopher Wootten Stage — the Christopher Wootten Fund. From its earliest days, The Cultch has been a place to experience some of the city’s most compelling and diverse performance. It has grown into a safe and welcoming space for bold, unconventional work that challenges audiences and pushes boundaries.
The Cultch has continued to build on the vision and spirit Christopher Wootten established in those formative years: a place where diverse voices are welcomed, artists are supported, and brave, creative work can find a home. The naming of the Christopher Wootten Stage was made possible by a generous lead donation, and the Christopher Wootten Fund will help The Cultch continue to walk in the footsteps of its founder, honouring the work that Wootten established by creating a platform for artists and audiences for generations to come.
ABOUT THE CULTCH:
Since 1973, The Cultch (formerly the Vancouver East Cultural Centre) has been one of Vancouver’s most diverse and innovative arts and cultural hubs. The organization operates three theatrical venues, a gallery, and various ancillary spaces in the heart of East Vancouver. Offering dynamic contemporary works in theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts, The Cultch brings world-class presentations to thousands of citizens each year through its own programming and rental opportunities for community users. The non-profit’s purpose is to provide a venue for performance, serving a diverse and engaged public, creating space for artistic experimentation and development, and building an audience for cutting-edge local, national, and international work.
