Regina's Creative City Centre raising $1M for new space meant to invigorate downtown art scene

The Creative City Centre is fundraising to renovate a new space that will allow the community arts organization to greatly expand its offerings in Regina's downtown.

The space, located at 1819 Cornwall St. in the old Just For You Spa location, will feature a performance space, an art gallery, a classroom space, an artist-in-residence studio, a recording studio and a production studio.

It will also be wheelchair accessible and provide homes for the Regina Folk Festival, Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, Articulate Ink Printmaking Collective and other non-profit arts organizations, according to its website.

That represents a major upgrade from its old space a few blocks to the east on Hamilton Street, which was cramped and lacked an elevator.

"It's a pretty big project," Marian Donnelly, CEO and founder of Creative City Centre, said.

The goal is to have the building open by September 2025.

The organization is trying to raise $1 million for renovations of the new space.

Donnelly said help from other businesses — like a fundraiser at O'Hanlon's and a book sale at the new location in partnership with the Penny University Bookstore — have been greatly appreciated.

"They really help us spread the word about the project," she said. "The book sale in particular has been great because people can also tour the building and see what it is that we're planning to do."

Saskatchewan Weekend21:48Celebrating a new home for Regina's Creative City Centre

When the Creative City Centre opened in downtown Regina back in 2006, they created a space for emerging musicians, artists and poets. They also created a community. One of the biggest challenges at their original location on Hamilton Street was accessibility. Founder Marian Donnelly says there were over 40 steps up to the top floor where much of the magic took place. All that changes when they move into a new space next fall.Marian is excited about that and so much else. Host Shauna Powers dropped by for a tour this week,and had a wide-ranging conversation with Marian.

Donnelly said it is important to have art and cultural activities in the heart of the city.

"You go to any city in the world and you don't go look at the suburbs. You go downtown to see their libraries or museums or galleries," she said.

"That's what we're trying to create here."

The organization will be holding more fundraising events in the spring.