The story behind Portside Studios
In 2006, 23 artists at 901 Main Street in Vancouver decided to try to save their studios after being told by a local developer to vacate as the site was slated for re-development. 901 Main had been a studio building and important cultural landmark in Vancouver for over 20 years.
Faced with losing their beloved studio space, the artists and the Vancouver arts community took their fight to City Hall. The “Save 901 Main” campaign brought attention not only to their own plight, but to the scarcity of dedicated, affordable artists’ space in Vancouver.
The campaign drew more than 2000 petition signatures and 200 letters of support, was covered by major media outlets, and became a political flashpoint in the civic election. The city brokered a deal to replace the 5000-square-foot space that would be lost, but it failed as the rent proposed by the developer would have nearly doubled what the artists had been paying at 901 Main.
To strengthen their political voice and gain negotiating power, the artists formed 901 Artists Co-operative in 2008 with the support of the BC Co-op Association and Vancity Foundation.
On December 1, 2009, the 23 members of the 901 Artists’ Co-op moved into their beautiful new space at 150 McLean Drive and named it Portside Studios. Portside became one of only a few properly zoned artist studios as the co-op managed to work with the city and the landlord to accomplish this goal.
Rather than dispersing and losing their community, the 901 artists chose to stay together in order to have control over their destiny. Since then, Portside Studios has become a major destination for both artists and art appreciators, one of the best and most affordable studios in this city.
In 2006, 23 artists at 901 Main Street in Vancouver decided to try to save their studios after being told by a local developer to vacate as the site was slated for re-development. 901 Main had been a studio building and important cultural landmark in Vancouver for over 20 years.
Faced with losing their beloved studio space, the artists and the Vancouver arts community took their fight to City Hall. The “Save 901 Main” campaign brought attention not only to their own plight, but to the scarcity of dedicated, affordable artists’ space in Vancouver.
The campaign drew more than 2000 petition signatures and 200 letters of support, was covered by major media outlets, and became a political flashpoint in the civic election. The city brokered a deal to replace the 5000-square-foot space that would be lost, but it failed as the rent proposed by the developer would have nearly doubled what the artists had been paying at 901 Main.
To strengthen their political voice and gain negotiating power, the artists formed 901 Artists Co-operative in 2008 with the support of the BC Co-op Association and Vancity Foundation.
On December 1, 2009, the 23 members of the 901 Artists’ Co-op moved into their beautiful new space at 150 McLean Drive and named it Portside Studios. Portside became one of only a few properly zoned artist studios as the co-op managed to work with the city and the landlord to accomplish this goal.
Rather than dispersing and losing their community, the 901 artists chose to stay together in order to have control over their destiny. Since then, Portside Studios has become a major destination for both artists and art appreciators, one of the best and most affordable studios in this city.