A home for an array of artists
62 Broadway arts hub bustling with activity since spring opening
62 Broadway is a multidisciplinary arts hub whose mission is to support the full creative cycle for artists, creative industries and professionals on the west coast.
Since opening in April, located at the former bank on Broadway in Corner Brook, it hosts everything from creative and professional development workshops and sessions to a recording studio to live performance events to artisan shops.
“We’re supporting the full lifecycle of an artist’s process from the creation of work to the sale of that work, public interfacing and everything in between,” said owner Nigel Jenkins, an artist manager and record label owner.
62 Broadway features a micro studio which provides aspiring musicians, podcasters and other sound enthusiasts access to basic recording needs. Studio time can be booked on their website. It also includes two spaces open for rent, its company boardroom and open concept events space.
62 Broadway’s Artisan Shop is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as whenever they host public events. It hosts works by local artists, woodworkers, textile artisans and others. Many of which will also be featured this week at the 62 Broadway’s inaugural Holiday Pop-Up shop and Cookie Bake-Off on Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Events co-ordinator Debbie Brown says it will be a typical holiday craft fair, where visitors can drop by, have a chat with the artists and makers while discovering the perfect holiday gift. There will also be music and a prize wheel.
Meanwhile, the Cookie Bake-Off will be an opportunity for locals to prove they have the best cookie. Anyone can enter the competition. Entries will be anonymous and anyone can drop by to taste test to crown the number one cookie baker of the year in Corner Brook.
There will be 12 local artisans present. When Jenkins and Brown spoke to The West Coast Wire, they were still receiving entrants for the cookie bake-off.
Admission is $2 for the pop-up shop and $2 to be a cookie taste-tester.
PLENTY HAPPENING
Since opening, 62 Broadway has hosted more than 1,300 people in 38 events.
There have been public workshops with various musicians such as guzheng player Jing Xia, Andrew Kagumba and the Ballast Collective.
“Those were open to the public to just come in and just learn about the guzheng with Jing Xia,” explained Brown. “Most people here will never have the opportunity to play a guzheng or to even see one up close, so these workshops were to allow people to experience a different type of music and to learn more.”
Kagumba, for instance, also brought in various African instruments for attendees to learn about.
One of their events featured a talk from Kevin Blackmore, from the Newfoundland music and comedy trio Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers.
“He was talking about the inspiration behind humour and music, and how he came to be the musician that he is and the people that preceded him,” explained Brown.
Over the summer, 62 Broadway also hosted two Songwriting, Recording and Performance Camps for youths, led by local musicians.
The digital release of a compilation album produced from those recording sessions will be celebrated at a release and listening party at 62 Broadway on Nov. 30 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Music and wellness is one of the ongoing series at the hub where people do different activities such as hiking and yoga, with musical accompaniment, to improve physical and mental well-being.
62 Broadway also offers various membership plans on Patreon. These plans include exclusive membership-only benefits that can be found on their website at 62broadway.ca
The Patreon page is at patreon. com/62broadway
LOOKING AHEAD
Jenkins, who owns the Laughing Heart Music Limited record label, says they will be launching a new record label out of the building in 2024. It will be focused on artists based in Western Newfoundland.
“Supporting all the amazing recording work that’s being done with (62 Broadway producer/engineer) Louis McDonald here in the building,” added Jenkins.
He anticipated the label’s first releases would come in the first quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, Jenkins says he remains eager for 62 Broadway’s friends at the Rotary Arts Centre to receive approval for funding to enter the space downstairs.
“I think that’s when you’ll see sort of the full potential of the concept,” stated Jenkins.
The hope is for the downstairs space to include a full recording studio, a visual arts space and a large multipurpose space.
This past summer, 62 Broadway also hosted an electronic and experimental music festival called Wash Brain. They will be doing a winter edition of that festival next year, which they are calling Freeze Brain. The music and wellness partnerships will proceed next year, and they will bring back West Fest in the fall of 2024.
More songwriting camps and artist development camps are also planned.