Does Calgary need another multi-million-dollar arts hub like cSPACE at King Edward School? Perhaps two or three? No! But Calgary definitely needs more studio space for its growing visual arts community.

Because Calgary is home to the Alberta University of the Arts, it is home to a significant number of visuals artists - from painters to glass blowers, from weavers to ceramic artists.

One of the unintended consequences of the Green Line (new north to southeast LRT) development is that several art groups (100+ artists) will have to find new homes by the end of 2023. Artists working out of the Apik Gallery (a studio/event space) in Eau Claire Market are currently looking for a new space, as the Market building will be demolished. The same is true for the ArtPoint Gallery and Studio Society and Heritage Weavers and Spinners Guild of Calgary, both of which must vacate their space as work is about to begin on the Inglewood/Ramsay LRT station site.

In addition, the City currently rents out to NVRLand (another art studio collective) the old Shamrock Hotel building - also on the Green Line. So, they too will probably be either evicted as the construction progresses or be subject to redevelopment once complete.

And, while not directly linked to the Green Line development, Canada’s oldest (44 years and counting) artist collective Burns Visual Art Society’s (BVAS) building in Ramsay is up for sale and they are looking for a new home as it is doubtful the new owners will allow them to stay.

BVAS have been very fortunate that their landlord has been very benevolent to them over the past 25 years. Unfortunately, not all landlords are as “artist friendly.”

FYI: BVAS was kick out of the Burn Building by the City with less than 48 hours notice when Arts Commons commenced construction.

City Help?

Ideally, the City via its Calgary Arts Development agency should be proactive in helping these art groups to find new studio space. One of the best ways to attract and retain young talent today is to have a vibrant bohemian creative community, small galleries, diversity of studios for all types of creative activities, small live music venues - not just mega centres like Arts Commons, Glenbow, Contemporary Calgary, National Music Centre or cSPACE.

In chatting with some of the affected artists, what they need is not another large arts hub like cSPACE at King Edward School, but rather basic studio space, which is affordable and accessible.

I immediately thought perhaps the City could convince some of the planned “office to residential” conversions in the downtown to be converted to studio spaces, maybe live/studio spaces, but turns out a downtown location isn’t ideal as parking is too expensive and access to studios in a tower would be awkward as they are always hauling art supplies and materials up and down elevators. Their ideal site would allow for easy loading/unloading and some dedicated parking.

Some might say it isn’t the city’s role to provide studio space for artists. But I would argue the City helped fund a $28M Film Studio to attract more television and movie filming. The City is currently providing $130M in incentives for high-net-worth downtown landlords to convert offices to residential. Why not help art groups by allowing them to utilize empty or underutilized City-owned buildings?

In fact, the City could purchase the current BVAS building and let the artists stay there and pay rent and utilities as they have for 25 years. Seems to me that would be a much better investment than giving downtown office landlords millions to demolish their buildings, which is the next step after conversions have been ruled out.

BVAS would be an ideal tenant and neighbour as they have been in their current building for 25 years, paying rent, looking after the utilities and even doing all day-to-day building maintenance.

They even organize annual community events like Studio Stomp (June 22nd) and Studio Crawl (Sept 9th), as well as welcoming students from the nearby Ramsay School to visit and see how visual artists create their art.

I am sure ArtPoint, Apik and Weavers + Spinners Guild would be good tenants based on their track record.

Potential City-Owned Studio Buildings

The Greyhound Building would be a good candidate for a “bare bones art studio” space, while the City awaits the right opportunity for the building’s redevelopment - probably 10+ years away. The building has been underutilized since 2018 and the City still doesn’t know what it wants to do with it. The latest idea is to engage a consultant to develop a plans for repurposing the building, which will probably take another 5 years to hire, study, present a plan, debate the plan, find the money etc. etc. Why not just turn the building over to the arts community who could immediately find ways to animate the building with various activities and pay the City some rent.

New Flash: As I was writing this, LiveWire posted a story about converting the Greyhound building into a “large multi-faceted central service area” for the unhoused and those battling addictions. The proposal includes renovation of the building and the creation of a green space that would have handwashing stations, showers, drinking water, fitness equipment, community garden, charging stations, free wi-fi, drug paraphernalia disposal, naloxone, peer support, campfire area, dog park and, of course, security. A conservative cost to renovate the building and build the green space is $100M (very conservative) and then there would be the operational costs. Have we not learned from the Drop-In Centre that large facilities are not the best way to help those in need? Is it wise to have thousands of individuals in need in one centralized facility or would be much better to have smaller centers focused on the specific needs of different cohorts like the recently opened $39M The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience in Hounsfield Heights.

And what about the City’s Firehall #1 building in the middle of downtown which is currently being used for some temporary special events but for the most part sits empty. It would be ideal as a studio, exhibition and event space for an artists’ collective – and exactly what downtown needs. It even comes with some parking and easy load/unloading area. Bonus: it would preserve one of downtown’s most precious heritage buildings.

What about the Boy Scout building just off Memorial Drive? It was announced as the new home for the National Access Arts Centre (NaAC) in 2021. However, renovation challenges has delayed its transformation and discussion are ongoing (sounds a bit like the new arena saga on a much smaller scale). I learned there are plans now for not only renovations but an expansion on the parking lots next to it to create performance space. Meanwhile, it has sat empty for two years and will probably be empty for several more years while renovations get approved and fundraising takes place.

And next to it sits the Girl Guide building, not being fully utilized and could easily be rented to an arts group like BVAS to manage. Then there’s the brick building next to Poppy Plaza along Memorial Drive at the Louise Bridge. It has long been empty or underutilized. I have never seen any activity in the building for decades. It should have been rented out to an arts group long ago. I hear there is a new tenant in the works, so perhaps it won’t work for artists immediately but in the future.

Recently, it was all over the news that the Ogden community wants to save one of its few remaining heritage buildings that was a Chinese Laundry from the Green Line’s wrecking ball.

It would make a great studio space for a small group of artists and preserve another heritage building. Seems like this would be win, win, win for community, artists and heritage preservationists. Let’s make it happen.

Here’s a wild card! The city owns the 1912 Grand Trunk School (on 5th Ave NW at Crowchild Trail), that is totally underutilized (by Calgary Police I believe). I expect it would be a great space for an art group like Apik Gallery or Weavers, with few if any renovations and it comes with its own off-street parking.

Last Word

Inglewood/Ramsay is Calgary’s Arts District with hundreds of artists living and working in the community as well as being home to important art venues like Blues Can, Ironwood, Recordland, Esker Foundation Gallery, Loose Moose Theatre, Alberta Society of Artists Gallery and Festival Hall.

It would be a shame if the Green Line resulted in the gentrification of these communities so artists can no longer afford to live and work there. But sadly, it seems that is exactly where we’re heading. Pity!

Calgary’s Green Line LRT Project Creates An Art Studio Crisis!

City Help?

Potential City-Owned Studio Buildings

Last Word

Further Reading:

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