By next weekend, the large annex at the Thompson Community Centre takes a page out of Shakespeare as the Community Arts Council of Richmond (CACR) hosts the second annual Midsummer Arts Dream.
At Fridays opening reception, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., guests will walk through the artwork by more than 60 artists to the sound of a three-piece string quartet on the patio.
The whirlwind weekend show will certainly feel dreamlike by Sunday evening when everything has to be taken down, as the space is in demand.
I think we had to book it about a year ago, said Margaret Stephens, the CACR primary administrator. But were very excited to have this separate space where the artwork can be displayed nicely with good lighting.
Its a typical scenario for Richmond where due to demands on space, exhibits are usually brief and held in non-gallery type settings.
Since rent got too expensive for the CACRs own galleria three years ago, its had to hunt for alternative spaces to hold its annual show.
Like the CACR, more and more artists in the close-knit community are finding alternative ways to showcase their work outside the gallery and in larger city spacesº.
Earlier this year, artist Jeanette Jarville began curating group exhibits at Rocanini Café, where she had already been exhibiting.
I found that people are out there wanting it, wanting to see art, its just not always available to them, said the long-time Richmond resident and artist.
Every six to eight weeks, Jarville has artists deliver their pieces to Rocanini and she spends about three hours hanging them on the bright walls of the café.
Were making the wheels turn and finding new places to show, she said.
Jarville also opens up her home for private group exhibits as another alternative when the traditional white walls are in high demand.
Coffee shops such as Rocanini Café and Alegria Café, as well, are a way to reconcile a dearth of exhibit space, while exposing people to the palette of work produced in the city. However, for events like the CACRs annual show, they prove too small.
The Richmond Cultural Centre is one of the few places that really works in terms of crossing over with the general public, said artist David Dorrington. The librarys there, so theres a lot of traffic in and out.
While the Richmond Art Gallery is also located in the centre, due to its vision for professional and issue-oriented work, its difficult for local artists, particularly amateur ones, to get some space.
Whats happening is that the amateur types have been frozen out, said Dorrington. They arent getting the shows in the gallery. Theyre at the bottom of the pyramid, but are the most numerous and theres no room for them to exhibit.
Dorrington says the main problem is in the budget for culture. Cultural events and exhibits are part of the parks and leisure budget, which means culture money includes putting turf on a soccer field, for example.
The fact that culture is somehow leisure is bizarre, he said. Its viewing it from a business perspective, as if you can buy culture.
Culture is what holds a society together. An artists job is to ask questions, make us aware and comment on society.
The decision to lump culture with parks and leisure on a city level is historic, said city councillor Linda Barnes.
However, to address this, council created a separate arts grants program for artists about two years ago. It separates them from the main budget and allows them to use the grant money in whichever way they choose.
When we dont have to use grant money for rent, we can spend it on advertising and other things to get people into the building, said Stephens.
The onus is left on the community to get together and raise funds to develop artist-run centres or smaller spaces to exhibit.
Were constantly looking for developers and opportunities to create artist space, but unfortunately there are so many demands on our budget right now, said Barnes.
As part of the new development on No. 3 Road and Sea Island Way, a number of units have been zoned for live/work spaces.
The intent is for artists to use the space as a place to exhibit and sell their own work, according to Barnes, although she wasnt sure of the number of units or the timeline for the project.
I totally agree that there has to be that professional space as well, said Barnes. But these units and community projects are whetting the appetite for art in Richmond.
Art is a learning experience and these artists are beginning that curve. So maybe people are having coffee at Rocanini this year, but stepping into an art gallery next year.
