SHAHdjs plays at VAl’s inaugural party.
Vancouver Art and Leisure (VAL) recently celebrated its move into a new event space with a performance from local drum 'n' bass collective SHAHdjs.
VAL was forced to vacate its former location at 1965 Main Street, a site used by artists for the past 25 years "as a result of gentrification, " the group says in a release. Their most recent home in Railtown was damaged by a suspected arson on January 4. VAL has found a new temporary space in a warehouse called "the Lab" at 101 West 6th Avenue and can host events three times per month under the city's 'art event licence.'
“The event licence has allowed us to find short-term solutions to the city’s affordability crisis through being able to legally search for and secure unconventional spaces that wouldn’t be used otherwise,” says VAL artistic director Matt Troy.
Matt Troy Photo by Dan Toulgoet
"We find spaces in flux between being developed or granted permits and we're able to leverage that for our own advantage to find temporary spaces for artistic endeavours at less than market value."
Troy says VAL has the space until December but they hope to secure a more permanent location but acknowledges that "long term opportunities are disappearing" due to rising rents.
On April 27 VAL presents Crews Control, which he describes as a coming together of electronic music scenes, visual installations, live art performances, photography and dance.
On April 28 its Backdoor with Honey Soundsystem, a LGBTQ focused dance party. The group plans to hold its grand opening on May 5.
