Victoria arts venue closure has people wondering what's next

After 21 years hosting concerts, drag shows, dance parties and more, the non-profit Victoria Event Centre (VEC) says it can no longer make rent and has to close. 

The venue, located on the second story of a building in downtown Victoria, B.C., had been getting rent subsidies from its landlord — but those subsidies were set to end, and the centre couldn't manage the substantial rent hike that was coming. 

Chris Fretwell, the centre's interim executive director, said they have been overwhelmed with positive messages since they made the announcement.

He told CBC Victoria he's proud of the work VEC did to make sure its space was accessible and to provide a venue for underrepresented and up-and-coming artists. 

• What would a dream music venue look like in Victoria?

"I think it's getting tougher and tougher for artists to find supportive spaces in the city," said Fretwell. 

Carol-Lynne Michaels called the closure "a huge, huge loss."

The former VEC board member runs a monthly storytelling event at the centre, and now has to find another venue. 

She said this is an opportunity for the city to step up and help create a new arts space.

The Hermann's building  

The City of Victoria did buy a music venue earlier this year. 

In March, the city spent $3.95 million to buy a downtown building which houses a pub, a jazz club, and a music venue that is currently empty. 

The building is casually referred to as "the Hermann's building," after the jazz club. 

At the time, the city said in a statement that the purchase helped fulfil its strategic plan, which includes investing in artistic, theatrical, and music spaces. 

The empty upstairs venue is up for lease, and a spokesperson for the city said it has received formal interest and is in the process of doing its due diligence. 

Coun. Matt Dell told CBC Victoria that the venue may be too big to house the VEC but that he hopes it will be rented and reopened as an arts space sometime this fall. 

"So that is a glimmer of hope in this kind of tragedy around Victoria Event Centre," said Dell. 

The organization that runs the VEC has said it is looking for a way to continue serving the local arts community. 

To hear more about the closure, listen to the latest episode of This is Vancouver Island: 

13:13Another Victoria music venue is closing. Now what?

The Victoria Event Centre (V.E.C.) was a non-profit venue for music and arts for 21 years - but it just announced it's closing, after its landlord says it can no longer help subsidize its rent. It’s just the latest music venue to close in the city. On this episode, we’ll find out if the people behind the V.E.C. might pop up elsewhere, and we’ll get the latest on the city of Victoria’s plans to revive another venue. 

Islanders, this is a podcast for you. Life on Vancouver Island isn't all sunset strolls and forest bathing — it can be frustrating, isolating and expensive. We're going to talk about the good, the bad and everything in between. Hosted by Kathryn Marlow every Tuesday.

Tune into This is Vancouver Island every Tuesday on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.