Open Space is a non-profit artist-run centre situated on unceded Lekwungen territory in Victoria, British Columbia. Since its founding in 1972, Open Space has worked to present contemporary visual arts, music, writing, media arts and more.

Board of Directors

As of September 25, 2024

board [at] openspace.ca

  • Lorilee Wastasecoot

  • Heng Wu

  • Anna Höstman

  • Kim Shortreed

  • Anahita Ranjbar

Staff

  • Jesse Campbell - IEAP Program Coordinator - ieap [at] openspace.ca

  • Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé - Curator, Indigenous & Contemporary Art - indigenouscurator [at] openspace.ca

  • Miles Giesbrecht - Technician - tech [at] openspace.ca

  • Doug Jarvis - Executive Director - director [at] openspace.ca

  • Amena Sharmin - Operations Manager - office [at] openspace.ca

  • Media Inquiries - Sandra Hudson - sandra [at] sandrahudsoncomm.com

 

Hours
Noon–5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday

Admission
Free / by donation

Mailing Address
510 Fort Street, 2nd floor
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 1E6
CANADA

Contact
phone: 250.383.8833
email: openspace [at] openspace.ca
Subscribe to the Open Space newsletter 


Open Space respectfully acknowledges that we are located on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen peoples, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. We seek to honour and uphold these ongoing relationships to the land and its stewards as we work on these territories.

Open Space is not wheelchair accessible and is accessed by a flight of 23 stairs with two landings. There are two gender inclusive washrooms, one multi-stall and one single stall with a urinal. If you have any other questions or concerns about accessibility, please contact office [at] openspace.ca or 250-383-8833.

 Mandate

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Professional artists are at the core of Open Space's mandate to

  • advance new areas of art production and criticism;

  • provide artists with opportunities to develop, present, and disseminate work;

  • engage diverse audiences in contemporary visual, sound, literary, media, and performance arts;

  • expand the roles and the status of artists and contemporary art of all media;

  • adhere to professional codes of ethics;

  • pay professional artists’ fees;

  • operate in a fiscally responsible manner to further the Society’s objectives.

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Open Space encourages artistic excellence and exploration by

  • supporting investigative, experimental projects in all artistic disciplines;

  • recognizing risk-taking as a component of excellence;

  • securing funding through grants, self-generated funds, and creative funding models.


In 2009, Open Space Arts Society adopted values and operating principles in the following three areas:

 

Open Space encourages artistic excellence and exploration by

  • supporting investigative, experimental projects in all artistic disciplines;

  • recognizing risk-taking as a component of excellence;

  • securing funding through grants, self-generated funds, and creative funding models.

Open Space invites engagement in the contemporary arts by

  • participating in local, national, and international social and cultural contexts;

  • offering financially accessible programs;

  • stimulating critical exchange, dialogue, and debate;

  • supporting freedom of expression;

  • providing opportunities for creative development for audience members and artists.

Open Space practices integrity and professionalism in its activities by

  • communicating transparently and honestly;

  • acting with respect and trust in all relationships;

  • advocating for artists and the arts;

  • governing with a visible and active board;

  • providing the major contemporary arts centre in the region.