Iconic Halifax building gets new lease on life as arts hub

A Halifax theatre company wants its new location on Quinpool Road to be a centre for the arts in Halifax.

The 2b theatre company has moved into a building once occupied by Video Difference and is in the process of turning it into a multipurpose arts space.

Christian Barry, a founder of the company and its artistic director, said the plan is for the building to be a hub for arts organizations and independent artists.

Although the building remains a work in progress, Barry said they were able to use the space right away and have already rehearsed three productions.

Over a dozen arts groups are already renting space in the building, he said.

“There’s such a high level of need for arts and creation space in the city that before we had even cleaned the carpets folks were calling us up saying, ‘Please can we get into the space and use it,'” Barry said.

“We’ve been in that position before so we said yes and we found a way to make it work.”

He said major renovations are expected to be completed within a year. Final touches are expected within two years.

People walking by on Quinpool Road will be able to see the space being transformed, he said.

Because of the iconic status of the previous tenant, Barry said the name will be retained with permission and the building will be called 2b @Video Difference.

The exterior neon signage will also be retained, he said.

The popular video rental business operated in the space for 34 years from 1982 until it closed in 2016.

Lisa Adamson, the company’s managing director, said the lease on their previous space was ending and the rent was going to be quadrupled.

Adamson knew the landlord of the Quinpool Road building and took a look when it came available.

The building has room for a large rehearsal hall, offices and community meeting rooms, Adamson told CBC Radio’s Mainstreet Nova Scotia. It also has two apartments on the top floor that can accommodate visiting artists.

Adamson said she went back to her team and told them it was an amazing opportunity.

“We spent about a year and a half working with the landlord … doing the building assessments to see whether or not we could take the risk and what building renovations would need to happen,” she said.

Associate artistic director Jacob Sampson told Mainstreet Nova Scotia the building will have spaces where writers can interact with other creative individuals.

He said the open nature of the building and large windows facing the street will help expose the artistic work being done inside.