The Nanaimo Arts Council is once again on the lookout for a new headquarters.
After losing its old space in the Jean Burns Building fire in 2016, the local arts organization has struggled to find permanent lodging. Since last February the NAC has been operating out of a space at 78 Wharf St. in downtown Nanaimo. But that will come to an end on March 31.
“Our landlord gave us an extremely good discount as far as the rent goes, so now he’s leased it out at market value and he’s asking us to leave, which is good for him, but we don’t know where we’re going to be going to,” NAC general manager Dan Appell said.
“We’ve got our eye on a couple of spaces and feelers out, but we won’t know for at least another week yea or nay on these. If not, then we’ll be putting things into storage and waiting for the next opportunity to present itself.”
Appell said the space has been “wonderful.” He said it was a flexible location that allowed for diverse programming, including art exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and workshops.
“I think the whole arts community appreciated us being here because of its location, and they appreciated what we were doing in this space itself,” he said.
Before its move-out date, the NAC will have one final exhibition, Synergy, by the local Art 10 artists’ group, which opens on March 8. There will also be a series of musical performances featuring the Mount Benson Ceili Band on March 5, Laura Kelsey on March 7, Marty Steele on March 14 and James Kasper on March 20, in Appell’s words, “to take advantage of the space one last time”
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