Local non-profit 'unlocking' empty office space for artists in Waterloo region

A new collaboration that allows local artists to temporarily take over empty buildings in Waterloo region aims to "cut the red tape" normally associated with renting space.

ArtsBuild Ontario is the non-profit organization behind the pilot project called Meanwhile Spaces. 

Alex Glass is the executive director of ArtsBuild, a group dedicated to "building, managing and financing" spaces for artists in the province, according to their website. 

"We're actually unlocking a physical asset that can actually see the potential for the individual or an artist group in a term that they wouldn't otherwise have access to," said Glass.

"So what they can do now is have the space and then they can also have the opportunity to access funds … we want to cut the red tape for them so they can focus on really making their art," she said.

Currently, the non-profit provides space to over 30 tenants and 140 short-term renters at 44 Gaukel Street in downtown Kitchener. The new pilot program hosts artists in two spaces — 99 King St. W. in Kitchener and former recreation centre at Wing 404 on Dutton Drive in Waterloo.

The King Street space is a collaboration with developers Lowland Properties Group and currently holds five artists at a time. ArtsBuild Ontario has the space for one year and will swap out artists throughout the year, for a duration they call "terms." That means about a dozen artists will be able to use the space over the course of the year..

Jen Prior is one of those artists. She's a visual artist who works mostly with acrylic paints, and it was the collaborative energy of the space on King Street that spurred her to move her easel from her home to the empty top floor of the building.

"I think when you're at home all the time and you're trying to work, it's just really difficult to get in that flow state and just kind of feel that light-heartedness that you need to have as an artist," Prior told CBC News.

The space is directly above Four All Ice Cream in the heart of downtown Kitchener. It's a partially unfinished room, with particle board floors and large, floor-to-ceiling windows. Each artist works in their own small section of the space.

"When you're alone too much, your thoughts ruminate and you're not really feeling connected to the community, and that's what art is all about," Prior said.

The program has 71 artists signed up for the program, and 50 more on a wait list.

'It's a beautiful space'

The City of Waterloo has partnered with ArtsBuild Ontario to offer up space at the former recreation centre at the Wing 404 location on Dutton Drive in that city.

Lakyn Barton is the cultural planning specialist for Waterloo. She says the city is excited to be able to transition the 508 square metre, city-owned location into a new opportunity for the creative sector.

"Artists and different organizations being able to workshop together, do rehearsals, performances — it's a beautiful space and we're excited to bring a new life to that building," said Barton.

"There's musicians, dance performers, there's visual artists. The Wing 404 is a much bigger space, so it actually has a tiny stage. There's a dance floor. So there's a lot more room to be able to spread out. There's also an outdoor component that can really aid in a lot of different types of work that artists can do," Barton explained.