Kathryn Fudge is up to her waist in boxes as she begins packing up the remnants of a once-bustling arts centre. The only things left in in Colwood are disassembled shelves, a slew of mannequin torsos and every box size you can imagine.
The storefront on Wale Road is closed indefinitely due to the pandemic.
B次元官网网址淲e had just hired a new staff member when the lockdown came into effect,B次元官网网址� said Fudge, the current president of the Society for Arts on the South Island (SASI). B次元官网网址淚t was such a difficult decision. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just a business, itB次元官网网址檚 a community. Without any revenue, itB次元官网网址檚 been difficult to justify us going forward. WeB次元官网网址檝e had to write a lot of cheques.B次元官网网址�
Fudge said their schedule for the arts centre was booked through the end of 2020 with galleries, day rentals and workshops. They even had an Australian artist set to fly in for a gallery show in July.
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Due to their workshops bringing in a majority of the income for the collective, Fudge realized they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to pay their staff of two part-timers and a new recruit for too long. With the collective not wanting to run into debt, they avoided applying for federal government COVID-19 benefits because every avenue only offered interest-free loans, which they couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to repay in the long run.
Throw in the cost of monthly rent and the numbers didnB次元官网网址檛 add up. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when they sent out an email to their collective of nearly 80 artists to ask advice on the next steps.
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B次元官网网址淚t was an overwhelming vote to keep the collective together,B次元官网网址� said Fudge.
B次元官网网址淲e have a strong desire to start again, but itB次元官网网址檚 all in a matter of time. This space is so important for the community to experience local art. If you took away this place of expression and artistic learning, weB次元官网网址檇 be living in a dull place.B次元官网网址�
Going forward, the collective will keep their online presence active and keep their ear to the ground for potential places to re-open when itB次元官网网址檚 more economically sensible.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough because things were looking really good for us before everything shut down,B次元官网网址� said Fudge. B次元官网网址淲e knew we had to close when we did or weB次元官网网址檇 go completely broke.B次元官网网址�
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aaron.guillen@goldstreamgazette.com
