The Khyber facts for kids
Khyber Building, 2015
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| Location | Downtown Halifax |
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| Opened | 1888 |
The Khyber Centre for the Arts is a special place in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, where artists can share their work. It was started in 1995 and is run by artists themselves. The Khyber shows art that isn't just about making money. It gives artists a chance to show their ideas and helps make sure everyone feels welcome in the art world. The centre is currently located at 1880 Hollis Street.
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The Khyber's Story
The Khyber Centre for the Arts began its journey at 1588 Barrington Street. This building is a registered Historical Property, meaning it's an important part of the city's past. It was first built in 1888 as The Church of England Institute.
Building Design and History
A famous architect named Henry Busch designed the building. He used a style called Victorian, which was popular back then, and added some Gothic Revival features. Bishop Hibbert Binney asked for the building to be built. Henry Busch also designed other well-known buildings in Halifax, like the Halifax Academy and the Halifax Public Gardens Bandstand.
Becoming an Art Centre
In 1994, the City of Halifax looked for new ideas for the building. Not many groups were interested. So, the artists who were already using the building formed a group called the Arts Centre Project Society. Their goal was to make sure the building would become a permanent art centre. This group included artists, like Garry Neill Kennedy, and members from the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. The City Council agreed, and the building officially became an art centre in 1994.
Opening the Khyber Centre
In March 1995, the Khyber Arts Society was officially registered as a charity. This led to the opening of the Khyber Centre for the Arts. It became a place for showing modern art and for people to gather. Early on, Kelly Mark, who had just graduated from art school, helped run the bar on the first floor. Phil Grauer, who later started a gallery in New York City, was a director. Other early groups included Chesnut Tree Theatre and Ultramagnetic recording studio.
Many talented artists have shown their work at the Khyber over the years. These include Luis Jacob, Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby, Gillian Wearing, Kelly Mark, David Askevold, Shary Boyle, Gerald Ferguson, Alison Mitchel, Thierry Delva, and the Critical Art Ensemble. Even the famous music group The Rankin Family filmed a music video for their song "You Feel The Same Way Too" at the Khyber in the mid-1990s.
In 1997, the Khyber Arts Society signed a five-year lease with the City. This meant they could continue to use the building for their art centre.
The Khyber Club
In 1998, the Khyber Club opened its doors. It became a popular spot for artists to meet and for live music. Many Canadian musicians have played there, including Joel Plaskett, Sloan, Eric's Trip, Al Tuck, Julie Doiron, Jenn Grant, Old Man Luedecke, Tanya Davis, Buck 65, Skratch Bastid, Classified, and Ghettosocks.
Building Challenges and Future Plans
In April 2014, the Halifax Regional Municipality had to close the building. This was due to safety concerns and other building problems. At that time, the Khyber Arts Society and the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia were using the building.
In March 2023, the Federal Government provided $200,000 in funding. The municipality also gave $250,000 to the new owners, the Barrington Street Building Preservation Society. This money is helping to fix up the building so the Khyber Centre for the Arts can use the space again. The Society believes the project will need about $3.5 million in total to be fully completed.
More to Explore
- Down at the Khyber; a song by Joel Plaskett
