Boyle McCauley News

Since 1979 • April-May 2024 • Circulation 5000

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Quarters Arts Night Update

Living in The Quarters for the past five years, I’ve come to learn that my community is an often-overlooked area of the downtown core. It will come to be in the next 5-10 years, supposedly reinvented with its new towers featuring shops, restaurants, condos, and a luxury hotel.

What is already the definition of this area that touches the city center core, the Arts District, and Boyle Street? What is the area in which I will raise my young daughter? Those seemingly empty buildings, the construction, its parking lots, and for good measure, the wild hares bouncing along on quiet evenings. This diverse area of income levels and backgrounds, where artists and workers, business owners and retailers call home, has the opportunity to shape its community alongside the city’s developers. That is, if the community speaks up.

Thus began The Quarters Arts Society, built on the ideals of inclusion and social commentary by means of creative expression. Could this area not be a jewel of the downtown core? Could it not have a thriving inner city art scene, rampant with creativity, assessed by all and communicated by various voices representing their respective backgrounds? This is the pledge of the Society: continually gaining new members in the Society, maintaining diversity, and, therefore, accurately shaping this little piece of the city core pie.

This December 5 will be a special edition, marking the one year anniversary of the Quarters Arts Nights. This first birthday of sorts will kick off with the usual free/all ages programming of an open stage and open forum on Accessibility from 7-9 p.m. Throughout the evening, there will be art for show/sale/trade submitted by community members – an opportunity to collect your own piece of local art. Afterwards, the night will become a ticketed event, in celebration of our year of sharing and creating, Amy Van Keeken will host a massive sing-along, with drinks and treats available and little surprises along the way.

The Quarter Arts Nights will be held on the first Friday of each month, with discussions, musical guests, workshops and open stage being the central themes of each month. Interested in learning more? Email quartersarts@boylestreetcl.com to show a piece of artwork at our December Quarters Night or to become a community member. Quarters Arts Nights will resume February 6, 2015.

Jacqueline is the President of The Quarters Arts Society and one of its producers.

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