Arts and culture workers on PEI have identified the need for spaces in which they can create and develop new projects. In particular, the costs associated with renting spaces in Charlottetown have been a barrier that has stifled growth in the sector for many years. It’s left many emerging artists without a space to grow and sharpen their skills.
In 2020, CreativePEI held public consultations with members of the creative community to determine the feasibility of establishing a Creative Hub for PEI. We envision one or more vibrant and collaborative spaces where individuals and organizations from a range of arts and creative disciplines can build their skills, create, collaborate, and innovate.
We plan to operate the hub as a multi-tenant facility in which creatives and artists will have the opportunity to rent units on a monthly basis. This space would address several problems in the sector and establish a space in which artists can get back to doing what they do best, create.
The demand for a multipurpose facility has been high in recent years. A 2015 study commissioned by CreativePEI underlined that an innovation centre was needed for the professional development of cultural workers.
Community oriented spaces such as hubs have been tested in Charlottetown with the Start-Up Zone acting as a launchpad for entrepreneurial innovation in PEI. We envision a similar space centred around arts and culture.
As of September 2021, we are in talks with a property owner in Charlottetown about potentially leasing a 6600 square foot industrial space that could be ideal for workshops and studios. We’ve also been researching funding options to perform the necessary renovations to make the building suit the needs of the arts and culture community.
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