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SUMMARY REPORT ARTISTS’ FEEDBACK ON ARTSCOMMON 118 SPACES TABLE OF CONTENTS FOCUS GROUP PROCESS ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 SUMMARY OF RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………. 12 APPENDIX ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 PREPARED BY KATHERINE KERR FOR ECDC Thanks to the Alberta Real Estate Foundation for funding the ArtsCommon 118 Engagement Efforts
Transcript
Page 1: SUMMARY REPORT · • Soundproofing / isolation • Height, • Water, • Storage!! • Easy to access outside for transport of work /materials and deliveries • Access to gas,

SUMMARY REPORT ARTISTS’ FEEDBACK ON ARTSCOMMON 118 SPACES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOCUS GROUP PROCESS ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

SUMMARY OF RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………. 12

APPENDIX ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13

PREPARED BY KATHERINE KERR FOR ECDC

Thanks to the Alberta Real Estate Foundation

for funding the ArtsCommon 118 Engagement Efforts

Page 2: SUMMARY REPORT · • Soundproofing / isolation • Height, • Water, • Storage!! • Easy to access outside for transport of work /materials and deliveries • Access to gas,

FOCUS GROUP PROCESS Invitations were designed and sent out by email, phone, and distributed on the web through Arts on the Ave and Edmonton Arts Council social media. Four sessions were offered between Oct 18 – 21 2018.

• Over 160 artists were contacted by email or phone.

• Twenty-three artists RSVP’d they would like to attend.

• Another eight responded that they would be interested in future engagement.

• One artist requested the facilitator visit her existing studio to see first-hand what works or doesn’t.

• One organization has requested a one-on-one meeting to discuss their interests (EPG).

• Two others in theatre industry have expressed interest to assist with thinking around that space.

• One self-identified Indigenous artist expressed some concern that the facility will not address barriers present in her population.

On Oct 18 and Oct 21 sessions were held at the ECDC offices on 111 Avenue

• Number of sessions – 2 (consolidated due to responses)

• Participants – Eighteen in total. All but one live or work within walking or bus transit of the project site. Age ranges from early 30’s – late 60’s.Diversities of interests as well as background cultures are present.

• Duration – 2 hours each (1.25 hours were planned, but participants were keen to stay)

SESSIONS AGENDA • General Introduction of ECDC role and mandate

• Introductions all around, reason for attending,

• Quick overview of the design plan to date, overall generating concepts

• A dive into key public spaces and key artist spaces including galley, production studios, community theatre, and live/work spaces.

• Q &A

• Wrap up

TYPES OF FEEDBACK SOLICITED Participants began to offer input and feedback as soon as the floor plans and associated space were introduced. The session took form of an active facilitated conversation recorded as follows:

• Conversation transcribed on paper by ECDC staff

• A brain map of the conversation captured on the white board by the facilitator

• Individual feedback forms including a form with ArtsCommon 118 spaces and responses in happy, neutral or sad faces

• “Stickies” provided to write down any ideas participants might have in the moment

• A feedback sheet to be filled in specific to individual space interests, issues and needs.

Participants were encouraged to turn in all feedback at the end of the session. Feedback on the general focus group format and content was verbally requested by the facilitator at the end of each session – with positive overall responses received.

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3 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

SUMMARY OF RESULTS All feedback has been reviewed and tabulated, and then assessed. No additions or deletions are made in the tabulations.

FEEDBACK FORMS

EMOJI FORM FOR PROJECT CONCEPTS

Participants were asked to rank 10 key aspects of the ArtsCommon 118 Project concepts by circling an emoji on

a form. Fourteen of eighteen participants filled these in. Note not all participants circled an emoji for every

space . The number of “faces” circled for each item is ranked in order of popularity below:

Space Types 😀 😐 😐 Additional Comments on form

Overall 101 24 3

Rooftop Garden

llll/ llll/ lll l • Love this idea

• What about a courtyard indoors?

Art gallery llll/ llll/ lll • Could double as market space

Theatre llll/ llll/ l ll • Define better what it is to be/uses

• Happy it is there, not happy with its current configuration

• Look for models of newly built theatres: Theatre Network (Roxy), Varscona

• Need storage for set pieces, props, costumes and lighting

• More height on theatre space like there is in lobby?

• BOH- Building carpenter shop would be ideal

• Need to hire a theatre designer & technical director when making decisions on build model

• Need rehearsal space!

• Needs an office

Retail Stores llll/ llll/ l l • Doesn’t seem to be much space

• Find professional services that serve artists: lawyers, accountants, PR companies (@market rates?)

Music school

llll/ llll/ l ll • Any free lessons for community members

• Will help with financial picture

Coffeehouse llll/ llll/ l • Can we use already existing resources in neighbourhood?

Market space

llll/ llll/ l • Yes, especially to night and farmers’ markets

• Open street

Industrial Kitchen

llll/ llll lll • Will we use this? Outreach to community needed.

• Community kitchen

• Who can use this?

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4 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

Space Types 😀 😐 😐 Additional Comments on form

Overall 101 24 3

Parking 43 +24

llll/ ll llll/ l l • Who cares - too addicted to cars. Seriously, society needs to decrease automobile trap on our lives and future

• Not sure….

• Mentioned parking meters to help with land taxes or facility bills on sticky notes

• Does this amount equal all those who live/work in building?

• Where is the alternative parking?

• Walking community

• Bike parking

• Bike parking?

• Not enough parking - impact on residential area.

• Street parking could be restricted during events.

Lofts llll/ llll/ l

ll • Too small

• Live + work could be separate

• Yes: height, natural light, minimal, modern, industrial feel, BUT… live/work is not an ideal model

• Residences, yes!! (Not sure of live/work)

• Will these be rental or purchase?

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONCEPT DESIGNS PRESENTED WERE FOUND ON STICKIES:

Space Types Comments

Theatre • There is not enough space allocated to the theatre. The BOH is almost as big and not well placed to support what happens on stage

• Theatre is small, low, not ideal.

• IF this is to be as drawn (proscenium) there is no crossover, no offstage space, very small stage for that design

• Would be happy to meet to help figure out how this could work

Community / Art • Collective projects are an important part of community art.

• Would like some isolation booths in open area available for writers’ collectives

• Community bathroom like in the one on Whyte Ave or in Borden Park for visiting/living residents.

Storage space • could be common /shared

• Needed for large productions

Community Square

• Could be one big shared studio. Artists lease month to month and divide the space

Production studios 1st or 2nd floors • Possibly lower elevation (height?) for second floor possible (EPG)

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5 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

Space Types Comments

Social Services • An area for outreach or social services workers to help with maintaining a healthy neighbourhood, or improve

• Workshop areas for helping artists or persons to improve their life in healthy decisions or education.

Solar farm • Yes! Great initiative.

PERSONAL SPACE INTEREST FORM FEEDBACK Eleven of the eighteen participants filled out these forms with a mind to the spaces they personally might use. Their space needs are summarized by type below. Of the individuals attending, five represented organizations, fourteen also represented themselves. The comments on desired space don’t always reflect the popularity of the Emoji Form. Meaning, while they might like the “art gallery space”, they didn’t always focus on that space in their personal use feedback form, or list it as a shared space interest.

Summary Feedback

Artistic activity Artists working with mixed interests attended including 2 & 3D visual (painting / sculpture), craft, performing, music, mixed media, written arts, and public art and design. Most artists work in multiple mediums; many teach as well as create.

• Fibre arts, collage assemblage and up-cycling

• Public art, visual animation and performing

• Theatre, music, music teaching

• Spatial design and research

• Painting

• Mosaic and sculpture

• Community programs – seniors

• Performance

• Theatre, music, dance, visual art

• Pottery, ceramics

Type of spaces desired Production studios for both individual artists and organizations are attractive to participants. The idea was floated that 78 live/work studios is unrealistic for the market, that overall the live/work units are too small to be useful, and not ideal as space typologies. Separate spaces were preferred, but a person could live and work in the same facility keeping those functions separate.

• Studio only – llll/ l

• Market space - llll

• Gallery or retail space – llll

• Office – llll

• Theatre/Performance – lll

• Live/work – lll

• Small live only space l

• Cultural program space l

Ideal size There was no objection to the size of studio spaces represented in the concepts, except that there would be a need for more 500 sq ft studios.

• L/W - Type B l

• Live only – 300 sq.ft. l

• Studio – 500-800 sq. ft lll

• Studio for organization – 2800-3000 sq.ft. (Special space needs to be built in as project progresses.) l

Realistic rent capacity Apart for the reminder that low-income artists either manage on minimum wage earnings or pensions, this small sampling of participants talked about what affordable meant to them. Lots of conversation about what is base rent, what is additional for operating and shared space. Most handled their own utility bills on top of rent; but tenants of ArtsHub 118 next doorsaid gas was included.

• 35% of income. Consider a person making $14/hr w part time work.

• Lower than market – pensioner on miniscule budget

• $1000/mth for Type B L/W

• $1000 for 300 sq.ft. live only and 500 sq. ft. work only, total.

• $600 - $1000/mth for studio only, 500-800 sq ft.

• $10-12 sq.ft.+ operating & shared costs for large production studio

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6 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

Summary Feedback

Special space considerations: Participants, knowing their own needs well commented liberally and specifically in this section. Later when asked what they could give up to meet affordability goals, comments included:

• Some would give up privacy iE/ share a desk, office or a studio

• In the theatre space, attendees would give up the larger lobby space for larger and more useable performance and audience space

• Artists considering living and working in the building would give up the number of living spaces to focus on studio only spaces

• Some would give up the size of live spaces to afford larger studio space.

• Height in the residences only spaces. When asked what they couldn’t give up the consensus was

• useable and enough SPACE.

• good light (daylight)

Live/Work

• Ventilation, filtered air llll

• Soundproofing l

• Height, l

• Water, lll

• Natural light l

• Storage

• Windows – energy efficient. No heat loss/gain. Supply uniform window coverings or it will be a mess

Studio only

• Ventilation, filtered air

• Soundproofing / isolation

• Height,

• Water,

• Storage!!

• Easy to access outside for transport of work /materials and deliveries

• Access to gas,

• Fire safe/proof (work with fire)

• Sprinkling

• Floor loads for heavy equipment

• Waste handling (Clay catchment below studio for EPG) (safe disposal of toxins)

• Electrical – 220 3 phase (kilns)

• Lighting – natural and fluorescent

• Parking for members (12 spaces)

• Concrete floor (easy clean)

• Freight elevator

• Wide doors and hallways for moving large objects

• Loading zone direct to studio (EPG)

• (EPG doesn’t need too tall a ceiling space) Theatre

• Support audience of 200 (to make $ work!)

• more usable space to support both audience and performers and generate revenue

• more overhead height - height ok but not ideal

• overhead grid

• soundproofing

• set building space

• Rehearsal space

• Storage space – huge need

• Design that functions well – hire a specialist!

• Office space

Office/meeting

• Audio visual capacity

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7 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

Summary Feedback

Shared space interests? Six of the eleven participants using this form indicted they will make use of the shared space shown. Five did not comment.

• Exhibition space

• Gallery (as a Retail storefront), and use during festivals

• Performance areas

• Performable natural lights stage (naturally lit?)

• Market – outdoor and in

• Some could share studio but some prefer private

• Area for eating/networking/meeting that isn’t the café

• Storage area(s) Could be shared, depending

• Meeting /conference room(s)

• Might share a studio of 1200 sq ft with 2 or 3 others.

Parking Most cited the need for a permanent parking space as well as a bike space. Discussion about how to pay for that space varied. Those who didn’t want to parking space wanted to understand how the cost for those spaces would be separated from their rent costs. 43 underground was generally considered to be too few – 100 better. Many will consider a shared service, but possibly not in lieu of their own vehicle. Conversation around the volume of audiences and visitors who will come to the facility and where in the neighbourhood they might park. Meters?

Regular space YYYYY, MB, NNN ▪ parking for events! ▪ parking for 12 members

Shared ride service? YYY, NN, MB Bike parking YYYYY, Y(6-8 sp’s) NNN

General • Recycle area for things like old batteries, appliances

• Concierge spaces. Delivery, security people etc.

Additional Comments General enthusiasm and support for the project overrides specific concerns. Affordability is key. Designing well for intended uses is also key. *Note that one Indigenous participant wanted to consider further potential barriers this project presents to her community before commenting.

• This is a great initiative – common spaces, community kitchen, green energy, solar panels, garden - great ideas!

• This is a great project.

• *Indigenous connection inclusion

• awareness/acknowledgement/invitation

• * Welcome Indigenous community already living in this community – what can they build into this?

• How does building this space reach out/move out into the neighbourhood? Needs to move past its own walls!!

• This is super exciting!! What I don’t understand is how this will be sustainable. How will it pay for itself? Artists and arts organizations won’t have a lot of money to bring to this in terms of rent and use of facilities. It is grant dependant.

• Love this idea but costs have to be kept as low as possible for non-profit arts groups.

• This building will be a massive attraction for the community.

• I love that as artists we could become a hub of transformation in the community. For me this is big.

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8 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

BRAIN MAPPING AND CONVERSATION SUMMARIES The general conversations of both sessions are combined and summarized in the listing of space types and other comments below. These enlarge the comments made on the forms and stickies, and add to them. Both the written notetaking by ECDC staff and brain mapping by the facilitator contribute to this summary. Perhaps most surprising for the working team are the feedback on the live/work model. Live/Work Comments on concept drawings:

• The live work space is small. As a visual artist, space is what we need. We need space to make.

• I am curious about developing small live work space; I don’t think they work.

• I don’t think the live work framework is ideal. It sounds cool but ideally it doesn’t work.

• I have been living in my studio for 15 years plus. I stay because it is affordable. But I work with my paints and dust. Everything I own is on wheels. I don’t have a place that is my home and I don’t have a place that is my studio. The only reason I have this is because it is affordable. I teach as well. I make it work but it is not ideal.

• Living isn’t the challenge. Finding a space to work with adequate ventilation, and that I can invite people into, teach in, is more important

• 78 live/work residence is not realistic. I don’t think many people to look for this type of space

• Have a few small live work spaces, or a few residences and separate smaller production studios

• None of this is for families. Artist led families, they struggle for finding a space to live. My kids are all grown, but I would like to live somewhere that will accommodate them. Flexible that way.

• Live work is too small. Maybe more research? No spaces that work for families. We need to think about the artist with kids.

• Where would I put a couch? Where would I seat 8-10 people for my Sunday dinner?. I don’t know if I even have an oven to make a roast in this space.

• Is there a common room with kitchen to host people?

• Important to have common space where we can meet because this is where the synergy happens.

• I understand the logic behind live work space, but if they are too small it produces high turnover. This doesn’t help with the identity with the space, and the turn-around doesn’t help make community.

• I would rather see the living space, family units and stuff at the top, studio at the bottom shared with everything else.

• But living space is good. We need more people there at night on 118 Ave. This makes sense and has value. Losing the residences would be a loss to the community.

• On the drawing, maybe have studios on one floor. Just small studios, not live work.

• Windows - do not want to lose heat during the wintertime. Need energy efficient windows.

• Balconies?

• Smoking allowed in residences? Where? Rules?

• Unified window coverings supplied or it will look a mess.

Studio Only

• Are they fully independent or do we have to share sinks? Shared sinks become a mess.

• Adequate storage for large pieces. E.G. 20’ teepee poles

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9 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

• Enough space to store and rehearse mixed media projects before installation E.G. Nuit Blanche

• Current space inadequate - about 350 sq ft with 10 ft walls. Shared. Looking for something better

• Disposal of paints and other toxins - specific drainage system. It can be toxic.

• Design studio spaces as bare bones as possible and then when artists lease the space they can make whatever modifications they need.

• Large elevator, wide hallways and doors for art movement. Loading access.

• I share a studio right now. I find it is constant conflict.

• Would like studio about 640 sq ft.

• A shared studio of 1200 sq ft, shared with 3-4 artists would be great (vs small live/work combined)

• We need 2000-3000 sq ft. Theatre

• Make a unique theatre space for this community -what kind of theatre would the people in this community be interested in? What doesn’t exist in other parts of the city?

• A unique theatre here would attract me to it. Maybe there is a multi-space elsewhere in the building.

• Concept - Proscenium? There are lots of those in the city. The city of full of little theatres where people sit in a line. This is too small for model shown - needs to be 50% larger. No wing space, stage won’t function. BOH is huge and not well placed

• What level of theatre do you want? For 5-6 actor play, 200 seats needed to self- sustain theatre

• Personal preference is for flexible space or theatre-in-the-round - this removes need for wing space

• To be unique in Edmonton is to go with something like a theatre-in-the-round.

• For flexibility design a theatre-in-the-round and the performance space in the middle. If have big enough stage in theater-in-the-round, then could be flexible community space.

• If you can’t have a place to move risers out of the way, then in-the-round is better, seats stay as is

• In community gatherings, you want people seating in a circle because they can see each other.

• Stage at end tends to be encumbered by rules. If stage is in centre, the equipment can be lifted to the ceiling and kids can run around. 15’ height is not horrifyingly low, but not great

• The lifted lighting in centre can be used to create an environment for any use.

• Greek amphitheatre is a split between the two models.

• Storage for theatre – there can or should be theatre in this building. There isn’t any except in purpose built. It is necessary to have things that are off stage and on stage, and room for people to exit and not crash into a wall. Necessary to move in from diff directions.

• Necessary – need a theatre designer to be hired for the theatre.

• Look at local models: Theatre Network (https://theatrenetwork.ca/) Contact: Bradley Moss, Artistic & Executive Director ([email protected])

Shared Storage Space

• Artists like to store lots of stuff they may not use right away, puppets, tools, instruments, costumes.

• Individual storage will take from overall space. [In another facility] We transformed one studio space into storage space. We lost a work space but gained better overall space for us. Then if you design the storage room at beginning, won’t need plumbing. Don’t have to put a lot of money to make it happen. Make an agreement for use.

Shared Office/Meeting + Writer space/Collective

• This [second level overlooking gallery space] is all open and bright. If counters overlooking had access to a small kitchen, coffeemaker – it would be fine to have people around. I wear headphones, but even if there were silent spaces, I wouldn’t

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10 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

want a whole studio myself. Share a desk or space, or a divided space

• I think there would be some interest in spaces that are just for writers; I’d like to talk to colleagues

• Freelance editors would be neat as a part of a collective - editors and writers coming together.

• Open or shared conference room Affordability - What Could You Pay?

• Current situation is too expensive: 849 sf live & 350 sf studio (inadgequate). Paying $2000 per month combined. Getting down to $1000 would be amazing. Or even a bit more but for better space.

• $1000 for 300 sf live and 500 sf studio, separate spaces.

• Orange Hub theatre - $13.62 sq ft is the cost the City asked for. This is not affordable for leasing large area. Good rate for an office but for a massive space it is horrific.

• Cost is always an issue. A shared space where other writers are is good. Pay a membership model.

• For me, the living space - the size – make sure I can afford both live and work.

• In ArtsHub 118 rent covers all operating costs. We have own power per suite, but maintenance, insurance snow removal is covered by rent.

• Market businesses - businesses that support artists, like a PR firm, lawyer, seek out the business that match the needs of the building. We pay full market rates for the lawyers. Bookkeeping, accountants, looking for someone who will understand the arts, Arts supplies store … Then our grant money is staying in the building,

If you have to give up something what would it be (in return for affordability)?

• Height.

• As a writer I would give up privacy for communal space that was filled with colleagues

• In the theatre I would give up lobby space for a workable amount of performance/seating space, supported by

offstage. The theatre needs to be bigger if it is to be viable, if that is the goal. If you shrink BOH and lobby, then it could be. If you want room to grow in, then it needs to be bigger

• I will give up live work units, (ie have fewer) and have more common space, including common storage and stuff like that.

• Give up area in live space (ie make it smaller - min 300 sq ft.) to have a larger studio, (min 500 sq ft),

• Height in the live space could be 8 -9 ft ceilings.

What can’t you give up (in return for affordability)?

• Wheel chair access, wider entrances, bathrooms.

• 15 ft ceiling in studio

• Daylight is imperative. (studios)

• Good access Green

• Legislation allows municipalities to finance solar panels through property taxes, If lived units were ownable, then they might fall under the program. Could help realize this part of the vision

• Appreciate all of the green space. With the amount of passive solar – would a greenhouse work?

• Food is a source of energy - think about food recycling initiative.

Food

• Inclusiveness when it comes to industrial kitchen, would there be open invite for free food days?

• Include people in the responsibilities. Engage the restaurants in the community, each have a day to share their food. This would be a good central spot to sell their food. An organization to run it.

• I like the idea of kitchen and outreach to community. Some kind of plan to communicate and integrate in the neighbourhood. Not enough people from the neighbourhood involved.

Concierge’s office

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11 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

• At least a two person to receive deliveries, maybe in both buildings

• Security during day and night,

• Janitorial staff need space as well.

• The security issues in the building in this neighbourhood will be huge. There are lots of people In the back alley at night who will want to come in. Security for the apartments.

Community/Culture

• Community building first!

• Do we need Indigenous relations person

here?

• There are certain things Indigenous artists

need. The Indigenous Artist Market has 50

artists. Some barriers are so pragmatic and

systemic – the list will go on and on. We

talked about the barriers that are keeping

us out of the buildings like this.

• This is an incredible thing. l would say that

there is sharing that could happen. There is

strong foundation built to create better

understanding of dealing with and work

through them (barriers?)

• Sustainable instead of benevolent

solutions.

• Alberta Ave - There are very different kinds

of people living there. This could be a

strength. That’s also how this building

could be built and designed.

• It is beautiful but it feels like it has been

seen before. How it looks, how you move

thru the space is important. It tells

someone if they are welcome or not.

Governance / Ownership

• Who owns? What does that look like? Who operates?

• Who manages all these different kinds of uses? Who hires?

• Could residential or live/work be run as a co-op? Can L/W be owned? Or just rentals?

• What is the theatre ownership or management model? What is the operating plan? I could participate with other people in planning.

• Would one super management cover all of or separate management for theatre, café, gallery, tenant, maintenance, leasing other spaces?

Other Concerns

• Massive attraction! But the cost? Looks expensive as presented in concepts.

• Cost of the building. Is this going to be a subsidized project?

• Arts organizations rely on grants that are not necessarily received every year. How can this be sustainable for them?

• Don’t duplicate uses that exist in the community. People in building have to be out in community. Building has to reach out as well as draw in. E.G.: cafés, daycares, etc.

• There is a demand in the community for artist workspaces. Is it necessary to have live/working space as opposed to have more working spaces?

• Parking - 43 parking stalls is not enough. 100 stalls underground for this big project would be needed.

Other General Comments

• Do a survey to see if arts students would live there (Nait; Concordia).

• Two retail areas - would you consider major tenants for these areas? Who could be the anchors?

• I would love to have plug-ins along the stairs for people to sit and plug in IPads.

• Has there been an asset map study in the past few years? Things have changed. Lost the Roxy, we now have Orange Hub and new Varscona. Might need to revisit.

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12 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS General Focus Group Format

• Ten is a good number of participants for the room. The conversation flowed and was shared easily. The sessions also worked with eight.

• Plan for 2-hour sessions when multiple intereses for space are in the room. Many ideas were generated.

• Allow for an extra notetaker to ensure all comments are captured.

• Hold more focused sessions on specific arts spaces – ie/ just one of live/work, production studios, performance space, etc.

• Allow for increased social media sharing of events and plan more time to contact potential participants.

Spaces

• Artists want SPACE to use. Affordable. Consider balance between private useable space vs high amount of common space.

• Consider updating stats on cultural facility assets in Edmonton.

• Reconsider live/work – larger units (750 sq ft +) or separate spaces altogether. For example:

o The top floors of both might be micro residential units and the third floors be smaller studio/office spaces.

o Or the 3rd/4th floors of the west building might be residential only 300-800 sq.ft range with the 3rd/4th floors of the east building dedicated to studios /offices in the 500 sq ft range.

• Follow up with Potter’s Guild Edmonton on their interest in up to 3000 sq ft of purpose-built studio space.

• Theatre? Or multi- purpose community event space? Understand what this space will best serve and name it that way. Hire a specialist to help design it to work. Follow up with representatives who have expressed interest in further discussion or planning.

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13 | P a g e Artist Focus Group Sessions, Oct 18 & 21 2018

APPENDIX

FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS

• Riadh - Born in Tunisia. Speaks French. In Edmonton for 2 years. Used to teach fine art. He and wife are

studying English. His specialty is traditional roman mosaics. Wife works with lamp glass.

• Michael - Saw the ad in the Diversity Magazine. He is interested in the concept and in what is

happening in the community. Works in construction. Background in Art. His son is an artist. Interested

in the development. Who is doing it?

• Colleen - Member of community, came in with Michael

• Kathryn and Sue - Edmonton Potters Guild. Both practising potters and active members of the guild

space search. Outgrowing their space in the basement of Vic School. Have found it is very difficult to

find something suited. Have been looking for 10 years. They are looking for new studio and workshop

space for 85 members with retail and gallery opportunities. Maybe 3000 sq. ft. This is the right location

for the Guild. Interested in a one-on-one follow-up.

• Annette – Director of Skirtsafire Festival - Multidisciplinary festival featuring work of women. Looking in

bringing gender equity in the Arts industry (less than 35% of women). Based on the Avenue. Seven

years of the festival now outgrowing its space. Expanding show at the Shaw. Currently at the Westbury

Theatre. Want to stay based in the community but need a larger facility. May like to have a voice in the

development.

• Len and Jean - Visual artists living nearby. Saw the invite online.

• Jeff – was on the Board of Arts Habitat, Painter, President of the Arts Hub co-op. Has 15 years’

experience living in artist live/work studios in Edmonton, including ArtsHab 1 and ArtsHub 118.

• Marina– resident of ArtsHub 118. Design researcher who also works in cultural communities.

• Robert – on the Board of Artists Urban Village, a writer, musician and teacher and avid bike-ist.

• Carissa – writer, Little Yellow House, lives in Cromdale

• Mark - artistic director Theatre Prospero, founding board member of AOTA

• Dawn Marie – First Indigenous Artist in Residence for Edmonton, she is a multi-disciplinary artist and

works with multiple genres of artist. I.A.M. Helping IAM (Indigenous Art Market) market their work in

events around Edmonton. She was homeless for four years.

• Pedro - artist painting, murals and public art. Lives and works in the neighbourhood. Recent recipient of

an community arts award.

• Elsa – former board member of the EAC, is a visual artist.


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