As one of Edmonton’s most successful live music and art venues, The Artery has been home to countless artists, audience, staff and promoters for the past eight years. Our passion for our community is so much more than a building: though the bricks and mortar have provided us a safe place to create and celebrate, the community that has been built within those walls is The Artery’s greatest contribution to the local scene.

Why a Fundraiser?

At the end of February 2015, The Artery staff were notified we must vacate our building by the end of March, 2015. The City of Edmonton is expanding the LRT line, and The Artery is situated directly on the proposed route.

The abrupt timing of this notice was a shock, and has presented us with the enormous challenge of finding a new home.

Edmonton cannot afford to lose another fantastic live venue. The Artery has always received incredible support from the arts community in Edmonton, and we need you now more than ever.

About Us:

The Artery is an all inclusive, all encompassing venue that has provided a home for visual art, music, film, theatre, dance, poetry, & everything creative between. The Artery:

• Provides a safe, focused environment for artists and audience alike to enjoy art;
• Nurtures the underground scene;
• Develops local artists;
• Showcases acclaimed national and international touring acts;
• Engages youth by providing one of the few Edmonton-based all ages venues;
• Caters to people of all ages and all walks of life; and
• Builds community by providing accessible, affordable space.

How you can help:

A mainstay in the local community, The Artery has, with the support of its artists and audiences, continued to grow alongside the local community. And we’re not done yet.

With your help, The Artery can move into a new home, and continue to provide opportunity to our burgeoning arts scene by creating a new, improved, safe space for community.

Your contribution will help ease the financial pressure in the first few months. Your donation will allow us to:

• Keep working. The Artery is an independently owned venue run by dedicated, downright passionate people. Help us continue to serve the local scene;
• Plan. The quick evacuation has left us scrambling. Your help will allow us to put the supports in place to find and move into a new venue;
• Move. Setting up a new venue is expensive. As an independent business, we simply don’t have the means to cover the costs associated with moving and setting up a new business (including permits, licensing, signage, marketing, etc.). Help us keep the lights on in our new venue;
• Renovate. A new space will need to be customized. Your help will alleviate the cost of supplies and labour to tailor our new home (including lighting, electrical, sound, washrooms, etc.);
• Serve you better. We want you to have a good time every time you visit The Artery. By donating to The Artery, we can get back on our feet, and get back to producing kick-ass shows and slinging delicious local beers.

Our plans for the Future:

Though we are still investigating our options, we have big plans for what a new space could do for the community. With your support, we can make dreams come true. Our vision for a new space includes:

• A cafe open to the public during the day, with extended hours on special occasions;
• Space for meetings, workshops, and other outreach and educational opportunities;
• Potential integration with other music initiatives, including a music school and recording studio; and
• Artist studio and residency space for local artists to develop their craft.

Where are we Looking?

The downtown core has always been good to us, and we want to stay near to our roots. Have a venue in mind that might work for us? Let us know!

When are we Hoping to Move?

Contingent on zoning and permit approvals, we are hoping to be open for May 1, 2015. It’s a tight turnaround, but we know the community is unstoppable when it works together.