It’s been somewhat of a struggle for more than a few years, but the members of the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District are seeing somewhat of a light at the end of the railroad. Just recently the group signed a letter of understanding with the Island Corridor Foundation for a long-term lease of a piece of the rail line property between the old E&N station and the machine shop on Ladysmith’s waterfront.
Kathy Holmes, past-president of the arts council, said plans have been in the works for almost a year and the project is being called the Ladysmith Arts Station.
“We felt that would be fitting considering the location as well as the meaning of the word station which brings to mind a gathering location,” she said.
An artists’ space had been located in the upper floor of the old machine shop on Oyster Bay Road, but had to be moved to the present location at École Davis Road because of ongoing upgrades to the machine shop.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we will still get back into the machine shop, but we also realize that the town has to find the huge amount of money to get it back open so it’s safe for the public,” Holmes said. “We appreciate the efforts the town has put into working with us and we know one day it will happen, but while we’re waiting we have this opportunity for a very unique venture that will become another feature in Ladysmith’s overall plans for the uplands area of the waterfront.”
The new venue will consist of portable structures that will be able to accommodate the council’s offices along with classroom space to fit the more than 400 people annually who participate in 41 art courses offered by the council.
“It is our long-term goal to return to the real waterfront gallery,” Holmes said. “When that happens, the arts station will continue to be home for artists to work and feature their skills to the public as it will be very open. At the present time there is no rental space for artists so the new space will fill up fast and there is opportunities for other similar activities to take place.”
Holmes said the corridor foundation was open to the arts council’s ideas as it has recently partnered on a similar project in Langford that is proving successful.
The arts council has received a $25,000 grant from the B.C. Arts Council to further its investigation of the site and study of the appropriate type of structures that can be developed on the site. Converted shipping containers, modular trailers, new custom-built structures or even relocated buildings will all be looked at as possibilities and local contractor Brian Childs and Company has agreed to work with the council.
“We don’t believe in just sitting back and wishing things will happen, our staff and volunteers will be knocking on doors and their computer keyboards looking for infrastructure grants along with any other possible funding that is out there,” Holmes said. “Hopefully by early fall we will also be launching a capital campaign in the community and surrounding area, encouraging the community to get on board with this exciting new project.”
How the project proceeds will “depend on the dollars,” Holmes said, and a phased approach to developing the site is a possibility.
“With the strong drive of our arts council members, and the support we already see from the local business community and strong grant applications and continued support from town council, we will make this a reality,” she said.
Earlier this month, the council opened up its new art gallery in the old Temperance Hotel in downtown Ladysmith.
