Artists Lodge unveiled by Historic Clay District

By Mo Cranker on October 19, 2018.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

Medicine Hat’s Historic Clay District was able to unveil its newly-finished Artist Lodge Thursday — a project that took years of work.

The lodge is at the old I-XL in an old office building donated to Medalta by I-XL and it will offer a place to live for artists from all around the globe working at Medalta.

“We’re elated,” said Medalta executive director Aaron Nelson. “We’re just so excited to have this unveiling and to say thank you to all of the people who helped make this happen.

“We’re ready to really move forward with this project.”

The project cost a total of $875,000 and was funded through grants, a large donation from BMO and private donations from community members.

“There was a lot of generosity with the Artist Lodge,” said Nelson. “We ‘re saying ‘thank you’ a lot today.”

The lodge is within walking distance of Medalta and is currently housing a number of artists in the Artists in Residency program.

There are 13 rooms in the lodge and it houses up to 22 at a time. It has a few living spaces, a large kitchen and multiple bathrooms. Nelson says Medalta may open the building to people who want to stay somewhere other than a hotel.

“The people living here right now are loving it,” he said. “I think we’ll use it to enhance our tourism opportunities when we can.

“People who are looking for meaningful experiences may be able to stay here for anywhere from a day to one week.”

Nelson says the goal is to offer artists a great place to stay while working in the city.

“Its about offering a safe, affordable and close place for artists to stay,” he said. “Currently that’s for our artists in residence, but it will be for people doing workshops — giving them a place to stay in this immersive space.”

For more information go to — http://www.medalta.org/creativity/artistlodge

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