Roberts Street Social Centre
5684 Roberts Street
Halifax, NS B3K3R4
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
February 6, 2012
Social Centre Calling on Community for Ideas, Money
HALIFAX – Roberts Street Social Centre, a community and art space in North End Halifax, is appealing to the community for support after notice that their lease at 5684 Roberts Street will end as of May 1, 2012. The centre is asking individuals and organizations for suggestions for a new location and for financial support including donations or support securing loan or grant funding.
“Community members have been supportive in the past, and we hope that new and exciting ideas will come from our appeal,”says Jill Ratcliffe, a member of the Roberts Street Social Centre collective.“But we are definitely concerned about finding somewhere affordable with rising rents and taxes in the North End.”
Six years ago, the Roberts Street Social Centre was a private residence that held the Anchor Archive Zine Library. Since then, programming has expanded to include a screen printing studio, a residency program, a community space for workshops, movie screenings and meetings, and a resource for low-cost photocopies. The centre operates on a budget of about $34,000 per year.
Programming will continue as usual for the time being, and the centre is exploring its options to ensure that programs will continue beyond the May eviction date.
“Roberts Street has built ties in our community through welcoming people with free and low-cost art- and media-based programming,” adds Ratcliffe.“We do not want to see the north end become a place only for high-end development.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Kaley Kennedy, 293-9683,info@robertsstreet.org
The Roberts Street Social Centre is a collection of projects dedicated to providing free or affordable access to independent and alternative media, art, and education. Projects that are part of RSSC include the Anchor Archive Zine Library, the Ink Storm Screen Printing Studio, the People's Photocopier, the Crow's Nest meeting space, and an artist and zine-making residency program.
The site for the Halifax local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
