9 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

A partnership between the Downtown Victoria Business Association ( DVBA ) and the Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA) is bringing art to the public in Downtown Victoria in a special way.

"We are calling the program 'Pop-Up Art'," says Ken Kelly, General Manager of the DVBA. "And we are using vacant windows in the downtown core to display the works of talented, local artists."

Pop-Up Art features 39 works by 15 artists from VISA. The art will pop-up in carefully selected spaces in the downtown core from August through to the end of September.

"Our students competed for a chance to be on display in these highly visible locations, at a time of year when the locals and visitors are enjoying the downtown core," says Wendy Welch, Executive Director of VISA. "Pop-Up Art is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our artists and brighten up vacant spaces at the same time!"

The DVBA hopes that the Pop-Up Art program will be a first step into revitalizing vacant spaces, eventually bringing more animation and businesses back to them.

"We have been working closely with VISA, property owners/managers, and realtors to organize the Pop-Up Art Program," says Kelly. “We have been inspired by what Downtown Portland has been doing to animate vacant spaces and we are now looking at creating the logical successor: the Pop-Up Retail Program, which will be unveiled this fall.

Once all of the art is installed, the DVBA will be providing a map of the Pop-Up Art locations at www.downtownvictoria.ca. The map will include the address of each installation, the artist's name and contact information. Watch for Pop-Up Art appearing soon in Downtown Victoria!

The mission of the Downtown Victoria Business Association is to help make Downtown Victoria the destination of choice for Greater Victoria residents and visitors - for shopping, dining, entertainment, and other services; and to act as a catalyst for vibrancy and prosperity in the downtown core through advocacy, marketing, events, improvements, and co-operative measures.

Pop-up retail sounds interesting, why is that not happening organically?

[Hotel Mike]

What a creative idea! Good for them.

[VicHockeyFan]

What a creative idea! Good for them.

Really? Why do you have to tell property owners, managers and agents that it's in the best interest of ALL downtown businesses and owners, esp. those with vacancies, that we don't need to see for lease signs all over the place? Sometimes I shake my head. Like the big for sale sign on the Traveller's Inn at 1961 Douglas, like on a whim someone might decide to buy it for $6M, because they saw the sign. Yup, 1/100 times it's worth it, but surely most of the time, if I'm looking to set up a business downtown, and invest tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I'm not just roaming the streets looking for for lease signs.

[amor de cosmos]

both cool ideas

[zinkerled]

That big ugly 'pop-up art' decal kind of ruins it.

[VicHockeyFan]

That big ugly 'pop-up art' decal kind of ruins it.

Ya, not sure it ruins it, but not sure necessary.

[gumgum]

Really? Why do you have to tell property owners, managers and agents that it's in the best interest of ALL downtown businesses and owners, esp. those with vacancies, that we don't need to see for lease signs all over the place? Sometimes I shake my head. Like the big for sale sign on the Traveller's Inn at 1961 Douglas, like on a whim someone might decide to buy it for $6M, because they saw the sign. Yup, 1/100 times it's worth it, but surely most of the time, if I'm looking to set up a business downtown, and invest tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I'm not just roaming the streets looking for for lease signs.

I think I having a hard time understanding what you're point is exactly. Are you poopooing this idea? But then you're saying its almost pointless that there are for lease signs all over the place.

I for one would like to see this program expanded into pop-up galleries, where the unit is actually open to the public with several works inside. The Bay centre does this once a year. It's called the Look Show. There's no reason this could be done all year round at other locations.

[amor de cosmos]

oWrIVFZMBTY

[VicHockeyFan]

I think I having a hard time understanding what you're point is exactly. Are you poopooing this idea?

No, I'm in support, just unclear why seemingly intelligent people (property owners) don't already do this. I mean, malls do it, they would never leave a space empty with huge for lease signs in it, or uncovered windows with everyone able to see the mess inside.

[29er Radio]

A lot of times with pop up ideas, it is the optics that matter. An owner willing to "give" space to one group and charge another "market" for space immediately adjacent finds themselves getting push back come 1st of month when rent is due. In my long and illustrious career putting landlords and tenants together, the worst that can happen is that one side thinks they are doing the other a favour.
In my mind pop ups are an adequate band aid, but not a solution to an ailing downtown core and mask the underlying problems.