Vancouver`s venue Little Mountain

Gallery is in danger of closing.

The inspectors of the City of Vancouver just discovered that Little Mountain Gallery s been renting their space for private parties, theatre plays, small gigs and all ages shows, etc. The shows here are affordable, alcohol free, and they always finish at 10PM . The venue is licensed as a retail art gallery so according to their activities don`t comply with the license. The City is worried about safety , but the volunteers of The Gallery said that there is no license in the city for places like this one because they are a hub for all arts. Most of the neighbours support the place and it has endorsements from all sorts including Discorder magazine, safe amplification site society, InnerCity Farms, Main St Theatre, Lucky comics, theatre in the raw, monsterdinosaur records (see photo below) among others. It is a very loved space by the music community in Vancouver specially because they can reach an underage audience that don`t have much spaces to enjoy music in a safe environment.

Little Mountain Gallery was established April 7th, 2006. Built in 1930, 195 east 26th Avenue was home to Curly’s Garage. In the decades to follow it has been a sheet metal shop, a plumbing and heating outlet, a soda pop bottle depot, and lastly, South Seas Meats Ltd. Over the past nine years however it has been home to the Arts. Located just west off of Main Street, Little Mountain Gallery is dedicated to its neighborhood, and to keeping the dream alive.

Little Mountain Gallery is the epitome of a do-it-yourself space. There is no one person in charge; for the last little while the space has been maintained by a small group of trusty volunteers. The rent is paid every month through the rental of the space to various groups, promoters, and musicians. LMG’s space can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including concerts, live theatre, art shows, and dance parties.

Safe Amplification Site Society calls for Action

The City is totally uneducated. .

Little Mountain Gallery is THE ONLY affordable, open-minded all-ages music venue in Vancouver. If The City wants to continue its current trajectory towards becoming a culture-less wasteland, it should really close it down.
I know for a fact that the PEOPLE of Vancouver do NOT want that to happen, and with the recent closures of Hoko’s, The Cobalt, Roy G Biv, The Sweatshop, The Emergency Room, The Peanut Gallery and countless others, we are coming to a boiling point. We will not sit idly by as yet another beloved venue falls victim to archaic and suffocating bylaws. Vision Vancouver was elected on a platform of supporting the arts… your voters are watching. It’s time to take action.

1- Declare a moratorium on venue closures immediately.
2- If the City receives any complaints about existing venues, explain to the complainants that there are very few art spaces remaining in Vancouver and the City will not be closing down any more of them. Explain to them that the City is working on new bylaws that will allow art spaces to exist with their neighbours in a more harmonious manner.
3- Hurry up with your regulatory review so that art spaces like Little Mountain will not be put at risk any time a neighbour happens to be in a bad mood. All available funds should be put towards this review immediately. It is the most important issue in Vancouver.

Ryan McCormick
Citizen, City of Vancouver
Singer and event promoter, Collapsing Opposites
Director, Safe Amplification Site Society