TheMuseum will be hosting three upcoming pub nights for artists

Organizers hope to spark informal discussions on the future of the Waterloo Region arts scene

WATERLOO REGION — Local arts and culture advocates are planning a series of informal pub nights in downtown Kitchener to spark discussion about the future of the sector in Waterloo Region.

The pub nights will be a continuation of a meeting hosted by David Marskell and TheMuseum in mid-November where he outlined the museum’s multimillion dollar plan to expand their cityowned building to create a cultur- al hub for artists and performers.

Marskell has partnered with Terre Chartrand, the artistic director of Pins and Needles Fabric Company, for the pub night, called the Urban Art Lab. They have three events planned so far — Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and March 27, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at TheMuseum, 10 King St. W.

“I hope there will be a building of trust and synergy that will come from this,” said Marskell.

Chartrand said the pub nights are an effort to break down barriers between different arts groups and get them all together for a playful evening of discussion, music and drinks.

“Theatre people tend to gather with theatre people at theatre events,” she said. “This way we get to have engaged civic talks and lively discussions with peers we might not normally meet.”

Marskell said there’s been a sense of distrust among the diverse arts and cultural groups in the region after the failure of the Creative Enterprise Initiative, which folded at the end of 2016, and the pub night would be a great way to re-establish those relationships.

The Urban Art Lab is one of the outcomes of the TheMuseum’s community stakeholder meeting with the arts community in midNovember to discuss a proposed $25-million expansion by the museum into the adjoining BMO bank building.

There was some pushback and skepticism about that plan during the November meeting. The expansion could include a performance theatre and art gallery, and Marskell said he’d be willing to rebrand TheMuseum to be more inclusive of others in the art community if the project goes ahead.

Construction costs alone could top $15 million and the hope is to secure as much as 73 per cent of that — $10.95 million — from the federal and provincial governments.

Some people at the meeting voiced concerns the project would drain funding opportunities for other arts groups in the region.

“Anything that happens here shouldn’t negatively impact others,” Marskell told the Record. “That’s really important.”

It’s been a decade since the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region said the region’s arts sector was underfunded by between $3 million and $5 million annually, Marskell noted. “And 10 years later we haven’t addressed that,” he said.

For more information about the 19-plus event, or to register, email info@themuseum.ca or call 519-749-9387.