Arts Habitat Edmonton Updates
New Year, New Updates!
We want to update you on the progress Arts Habitat Edmonton (AHE) has made in achieving its outcomes outlined in the 2024 Business Plan.
We’ve noted what we achieved across our strategic pillars— as Arts Space Planners, Operators and Managers, Advocates, and Trusted Advisors—and highlighted significant milestones, challenges, and adjustments encountered during this reporting period.
Our Work As Arts Space Planners
– We are the guardians of Edmonton’s first Cultural Infrastructure plan. We understand what arts spaces are, what exists in our city, what’s needed, and what needs changing.
– We will incentivize the development of non-market facilities for the arts and affordable housing for artists by becoming a granting partner with arts organizations.
- Updates
- AHE has made steady progress on the Edmonton Cultural Infrastructure Plan (ECIP), a collaborative initiative with the Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Heritage Council, and the City of Edmonton.
- Through this work, AHE learned the complexities of defining “cultural infrastructure” given varying expectations among stakeholders, and the broad nature of cultural infrastructure, which encompasses more than just physical space, and has underscored the need for a clear definition and potential policy development at the municipal level to support the broader scope of cultural infrastructure.
Our Work As Arts Space Operators and Managers
– We own, lease, build, renovate, and operate property for the benefit of Edmonton’s cultural sector.
– We work with the City to develop and manage City buildings as purpose-built arts spaces.
- ArtsHub Ortona Updates
- The City of Edmonton’s Ortona Armoury Building Rehabilitation project was completed. AHE offered its expertise consulting throughout rehabilitation and AHE was chosen by the City of Edmonton to be the leaseholder of the building.
- AHE initiated the Project Studio application and promotion process in the summer of 2024. The Project Studio application process received a healthy response, resulting in a strong and varied tenant mix, including visual artists, musicians, designers, writers, and multidisciplinary creators who were allocated a Project Studio for their project-based term length of up to 1 year.
- The resident Project Studio artists are required to help create a vibrant and collaborative environment within the building. A waitlist has been designed to ensure ongoing interest in the space. New applications will be added to the waitlist, with vacancies offered to the next artist in line.
- AHE has successfully reopened the building as ArtsHub Ortona, a space dedicated to supporting Edmonton’s diverse artistic community. Looking ahead, AHE is focused on ensuring that ArtsHub Ortona meets its full potential as a multi-use space.
- ArtsHub Creative Studios Updates
- ArtsHub Creative Studios, located at 97 St and 101 Ave, is nearing completion as a dedicated long-term rental space for Edmonton’s professional artists and not-for-profit professional arts organizations. The project aims to provide artists with office spaces and larger studios within a three-level building.
- AHE has actively managed ongoing construction while offering building tours to generate interest and awareness among potential tenants with a target to begin onboarding artists in the new year.
- Looking ahead, AHE plans to host an open house to showcase ArtsHub Creative Studios to the public, now expected in early 2025, to align with completed renovations.
- ArtsHub 118 Updates
- ArtsHub 118, a live/work space operated by an artist co-op above the Nina Haggarty Centre for the Arts, continues to receive fiscal and operational support from Arts Habitat Edmonton.
- Several goals were achieved in the past few months including AHE being successful in an extension of the public art installation “Heal the Divide” on the building’s exterior until August 2025.
- The condo association, with AHE’s input, completed a thorough review and revision of the building’s bylaws to ensure they address both current and future needs.
- This collaborative effort with the co-op has reinforced a positive working relationship with the Nina Haggarty Centre.
- AHE also secured a one-year variable rate mortgage, anticipating favorable future interest rate adjustments to reduce financial strain on tenants. The revised bylaws have also been submitted and approved, marking a significant milestone in ensuring governance practices align with the building’s operational needs.
- ArtsHub McLuhan House Updates
- ArtsHub McLuhan House, located in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood, continues to serve as a dynamic literary and artistic space under the stewardship of AHE.
- The ArtsHub McLuhan House Garage Studio Program welcomed a new garage studio artist-in-residence, Thomas Weir in July 2024. Additionally, Erika Germain (garage studio resident artist 2023/2024) held a successful exhibition in June 2024, which AHE promoted as part of its ongoing efforts to highlight the creative work fostered within ArtsHub McLuhan House. The garage studio is designated as an AHE-sponsored space, where artists receive support to reduce costs and focus on their creative pursuits.
- Looking ahead, The Habitat software will incentivize and streamline the ability to book ArtsHub McLuhan House’s main floor for events, meetings, and/or gatherings.
- Updates Showcasing New Art Spaces
- As AHE expands its ArtsHub inventory in 2024, efforts are underway to raise awareness among Edmonton’s arts community and key stakeholders about the new spaces available.
- Additionally, all ArtsHub space offerings have been integrated into The Habitat online platform, which manages AHE’s ArtsHub community, enhancing online accessibility for artists interested in space for the arts.
- With The Habitat platform in place, AHE has doubled its all-time professional artist registration count, in the 8 months it has been up and running.
Our Work As Arts Space Advocates
– We are the voice of arts space issues in Edmonton.
– We convene conversations with the private and not-for-profit sectors about the need for the identification, development, and management of arts spaces in Edmonton.
– We lead the civic conversation about the value of and need for, spaces in which artists can create, rehearse, exhibit, perform, and live.
–We shape and influence public policy and investment to support thriving cultural infrastructure and public spaces for the arts.
- Updates
- Arts Habitat Edmonton has been actively working to establish a network of arts, community, and business partners to support arts space development, positioning AHE as a leader in Edmonton’s cultural infrastructure.
- Looking ahead, AHE is planning a series of open house events, inviting key stakeholders to engage directly with AHE’s spaces and mission. These events will include community talks designed to facilitate dialogue between artists, developers, and other partners, fostering a welcoming environment for arts space development.
Arts Space Trusted Advisors
– We understand the space needs of the arts community and use this insight to advise and support the City on projects involving existing or potential living and working arts spaces.
– We report to City Council annually on the space needs of the arts community, and our progress in planning, operating, and managing arts spaces.
–We shape and influence public policy and investment to support thriving cultural infrastructure and public spaces for the arts.
- Update On Introducing The Arts Community To The Arts Habitat Edmonton Strategic Map
- Arts Habitat has made significant progress in introducing its 2024-2026 Strategic Map to Edmonton’s arts community and key stakeholders. AHE began by creating a comprehensive stakeholder list that includes universities, City of Edmonton staff, and arts organizations with which to share our new strategy.
- Looking forward, AHE aims to expand its outreach by continuously updating its contact list and encouraging registration on The Habitat enhancing access to strategic information.
- Updates On The Redevelopment Of The Art Space Map As a Space Resource Located On Arts Habitat’s Website And Its Space Listings In The Database
- With the previous contract for the database map with Local Intel ending, AHE is now exploring new formats and vendors to develop an interactive map that will enhance accessibility and usability, and provide a comprehensive view of Edmonton’s art spaces. These efforts are crucial to ensuring that the updated database serves as a valuable resource for both artists and the community.
- The next stage of the space map development will be determining the collaborative team that will work on this redevelopment. Determining the scope and scale of the project will come in future discovery meetings with the vendors and team members on the project.
As Arts Habitat Edmonton moves forward into 2025, several priority actions will guide the continued development of Edmonton’s arts and cultural infrastructure.
AHE extends its heartfelt gratitude to its supporters, including funders, partners, artists, and community members, whose contributions and collaboration have been essential to this progress. With your continued support, AHE looks forward to advancing its mission, expanding opportunities for Edmonton’s artistic community, and fostering an inclusive cultural landscape. Thank you for being part of this journey toward a vibrant, sustainable future for arts spaces in Edmonton.