The legendary eBar, long gone since the beginning of the pandemic, has grown into artBar, an office space by day, performance arts venue by night.
Unlike eBar, artBar isn’t a bar. The name pays homage to the former space while incorporating its new arts filled endeavours.
The eBar was also known as a safe space for the LGBTQ2A+ community, said a press release.
But artBar will continue as a safe space for equity-seeking communities and the LGBT2QA+ community.
“The reason why we didn't open it back up was because we thought it would be quite difficult, particularly throughout the pandemic. It sort of drew some interest from other people that they want to carry it on. And we're just really happy that it's going to be carried on as a community arts space,” said The Bookshelf co-owner Ben Minett.
The hope is for artBar to officially open by June 1.
The space is rented by the Guelph Arts Council (GAC) from The Bookshelf, and since GAC was outgrowing its space at 10C, a larger space was a must.
GAC executive director Damian Weston and Minett had been in talks about the space for a year.
“We really thought that it could be ... a sustainable, interesting choice,” said Minett.
“And sort of carried on with some stuff that we were doing. Which included our music space for everybody to sort of express themselves artistically.”
The idea formed when an individual came to GAC to put on a spoken word performance and suggested eBar as a venue. Weston took a look at the space and saw what it could be.
“And immediately on walking into the space, I kind of envisioned a new purpose for it. At that point, the bar had been closed for two years … it was being used for storage mainly, but immediately I saw the potential to have our office there, which would help offset some of the cost of running a facility like that,” said Weston.
The artBar is keeping the domino drop ceiling sound absorbing tiles, an art installation called Double Six Set (The Starry Night) by Greg Denton.
“I don't want the space to have an identity of its own, I want it to essentially be a blank canvas. And in fact, right now it's being painted white,” said Weston.
The idea is for the artists to brighten up the space and the venue’s look and feel will change based on the performance.
“It's a canvas for individuals in the artistic community to provide their own identity and to exist, and to demonstrate who they are, and what they do, free of any sort of preconceived notions of what should happen in the space and based on what the space is,” said Weston.
During the GAC office hours, it will be open to the public, there will be a gallery and exhibits people can come see.
How it will work for the venue space at night, is it can be booked well in advance, the rental fees will go to GAC, but the merchandise and ticket sales will go to the people who rent the venue for their events.
For last minute bookings, when there are gaps in bookings during slower months, GAC will open up time slots to its members. The rental fee will be waived but ticket sales will be split evenly between the GAC and the people who book the venue.
“There's going to be some people who are sad and miss the eBar and what it was,” said Weston.
The artBar venue will not be licensed or serve food, but for groups wishing to do so at their event, a special permit can be obtained.
“And keeping it unlicensed enables us to widen our reach and who can access the space,” said Weston. Ideas such as youth programming on weekends is something Weston has in mind.
