With violence and drug use at its front doors, fence goes up at Alix Goolden Hall
"We need to protect our building and make sure that anyone who wants to come to the conservatory can enter in a safe fashion.”
The entrance has been closed to the public for months due to an increase in drug and alcohol use and violence in the area.
“[The fence] is for the safety and protection of our building,” said Jane Butler McGregor, CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. “Unfortunately, the vulnerable population are using all of our steps and any sort of indent. We need to protect our building and make sure that anyone who wants to come to the conservatory can enter in a safe fashion.”
The school, which also offers music therapy and early childhood music classes, is currently being accessed through an entry on Johnson Street.
Small performances have been held at the hall in recent weeks, now that theatres are permitted to host concerts at full capacity, but fire regulations prohibit large events unless both entries and exits are open.
____________________________
The City of Victoria released its Victoria Music Strategy on Nov. 4, portions of which are expected to come into effect in 2022. Butler McGregor, who was on the advisory committee of the arts and culture initiative, isn’t sure what type of impact the investment will have if sites such as the Alix Goolden remain in limbo. “A big part of the strategy is strengthening venues in Victoria. It struck me as unfortunate that one of the venues that is most beloved in Victoria, the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, cannot be used to its full capacity because of the [street] situation.”
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 November 2021 - 06:06 AM.