The age-old "starving artist" moniker is on its way out in Squamish, if you ask Heidi Nielsen and Rose-Marie Carreras.
The two 樱桃视频residents are spearheading an effort to open a non-profit "creative space" downtown called The Artisan Circle, which will bring an art gallery, yoga, dancing, theatre, music, and healing arts under the same roof, at 38054 2nd Avenue.
"It's really an artists' community centre," explained Nielsen, "a place where you can create, create, create."
There will be space for approximately 10 artists to display their art, whether on the walls or in display cases. The artists chosen to show their art will have to pay a monthly fee, but will reap 100 per cent of the profits from the art they sell at The Artisan Circle.
This is in tune with the stated mission of the Circle, which is "to create a space for artists to meet, work, mentor, and profit."
For those artists who hold workshops in their medium, 80 per cent of the profits will go directly to the instructor, and 20 per cent to The Artisan Circle. The rest of the funds will be raised through the sale of "friends" memberships - which will allow the member to participate in four workshops per month - and grants arranged through Carreras, a board member of 樱桃视频Music and Arts (SMART).
A painting party and barbecue this weekend (July 9 and 10) at the Artisan Circle is the first scheduled event in a timeline that has the Circle opening towards the end of July/beginning of August and the Grand Opening set in September. Volunteers are welcome from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. to paint, meet those involved with the space, see the venue and have a good time.
This "very inclusive" event is indicative of the strong emphasis on community participation the Circle is striving to achieve.
An open contest to design a logo for the Circle is also underway, with a three-month membership up for grabs for the winner. Those interested in either helping out at the painting party, or designing the logo can contact Nielsen, the programming director at 604-892-9183.
Nielsen said she realizes the size of the project they are taking on, but is clearly excited nonetheless.
"It's a huge undertaking, but I have a lot of great people backing me," said Nielsen, who is also the founder of the Healing Arts Association. The Artisan Circle also hopes to work closely with the Hotspot, as well as the Brackendale Art Gallery, as it can provide a stage for the groups that choose to rehearse at the Circle.
Memberships will be fairly inexpensive, according to Nielsen, as the Circle is only trying to cover costs and drop-in classes will be $5.
"Being a non-profit, everybody wins."
