Over the past 15 years I’ve worked in all sorts of interesting spaces: open-air Shakespearean theatre, artist studios in former industrial buildings, graffiti exhibitions on mall rooftops, ‘Fringe’ theatre in all sorts of venues, public art on highway underpasses, conferences in vacant office towers. The list really does go on and on.
Although some of these are (or were) alternative uses of space, nothing really should be considered ‘alternative’ when it comes to presenting cultural or creative content.
Recently during a City of Hamilton Arts Awards meeting, our committee was exploring venue options for the event. We made a little matrix of key factors (audience size, accessibility, aesthetics, technical, cost, etc.) and started to discuss the options before us. After considerable dialogue we narrowed it down to a traditional “arts” venue and a definitively non-traditional “arts” venue.
During the dialogue, one of the committee members made what I think is an intriguing statement. Paraphrasing, Patrick said something like “when we use a traditional space we’re doing what’s expected of us. If we use a space that is known for something else we’re committing an act”. Committing an act. I like that.
The key in his statement was that it was not defined as an act of…..well anything. Not an act of defiance or protest. Not an act of solidarity or alignment. Just an act. An act to be interpreted, considered, explored for future reference.
The definitions of space and culture will always be tied at the hip. Our community, and every community we’re engaged with, is exploring these terms. Burlington, Guelph and Hamilton are working on cultural mapping. Clients in Toronto are devising plans for new relationships with production space, and in Kitchener they’re exploring capacity and growth. Heritage buildings, the role of public parks, busking and zoning will be debated for decades to come.
The CoBALT CONNECTS blog will aim to bring you exciting conversation about space. We’ll also continue to develop actual space for the communities we work in like The Studios at Hotel Hamilton and Guelph Art Works. Regardless of the application or the location – keep an eye out for CoBALT SPACES as we continue to commit cultural acts in spaces alongside our creative partners.
Comments
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Fri, 2012/03/02 - 9:47am
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Commited to commiting acts
Jeremy,
Congrats on the great new website, it looks wonderful and is easy to explore.
In 2002 i put together a show called RED that ran for 5 years and i presented over 300 of Toronto's finest artists. I believe that one of the reasons for it's success was in fact that it was in a bar in the Dundas West Neighbourhood, which at that time was not at all a destination. Audiences were not used to be a foot away from dancers, singers, theatre actors and performers of all kinds. It created something different than going to a traditional space.
Throughout the years, i was asked to relocate to more traditional theatre space, but always refused. It was clear to my that my audiences were not the normal theatre goers that felt comfortable in a black box space. They were people that rarely went to see theatre or dance, and putting it in a space that was more accessible was there first foray at becoming appreciators of a new form. I think it works very well indeed.
Congrats on the new blog and i look forward to more!
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