Yellowknife’s new downtown Music Space launches Sunday
A new downtown home for music will be unveiled in Yellowknife at a public launch on Sunday.
Music Space, created by Mary Kelly, won 2018’s Win Your Space contest organized by the City of Yellowknife.
“It’s a hub and a gathering space for musicians of all different levels, a place to practice and perform music and collaborate,” Kelly told Cabin Radio.
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“The missing link, I’ve found, in this town is a workshop space where lots of people can gather and play music together, and a couple of breakout studio spaces that can be rented independently.”
Kelly placed first in last August’s Win Your Space final, which promised one lucky winner free leasing for a year and a host of other business benefits.
Since then, Kelly has been refitting her new space on the lower level of the Graham Bromley Building at 5016 50 Avenue.
Music Space has its official opening on Sunday, January 27 from 2pm till 4pm, with catering from the team behind the Fat Fox Café.
Watch the opening live! Tune in to Cabin Radio’s Facebook Live on Sunday
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“It’s a musical tea party, drop-in style,” said Kelly. “There will be some ‘music moments’ for everyone to participate in, depending on their comfort level.
“It’s all about making sure people know this is exists … an active, cosy, comfortable music space.
“I’m really interested to see how much interest there is at this point, and I’m really interested in attracting other people to the space [to offer lessons].”
Listen to Mary Kelly on Mornings at the Cabin’s January 25, 2019 podcast (from 20:30).
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Kelly follows in the footsteps of Ja-Pain, the downtown Japanese bakery which won 2017’s contest and opened – following some permitting issues – a year later.
Asked for her advice, Kelly said future contenders for Win Your Space should have belief in their ideas.
“I didn’t feel I was at the point of making this a reality, and I didn’t think I’d find a space,” she admitted.
“I threw my hat in because a lot of people were saying I should try it, but I was hesitant till a week before the final. That’s when I found a space and realized it could actually work.
“I think a lot of people were hesitant, but near the end started to see [their ideas] could really take life. If you have an idea that I think is appropriate for downtown Yellowknife, I think you should try it.”
Win Your Space YK is a partnership between the City of Yellowknife, Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Business Development Bank of Canada, and the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation.