Wendy Struck takes one of the final paintings off the wall at The Hive downtown. The artists' hub recently closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
Medicine Hat’s downtown artist hub is closing its doors after 10 years in the community.
The Hive art studio and gallery recently announced its closure, which was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Things have been tricky for us in the past few years,” said board of directors president Wendy Struck. “When our studios were full, we were in pretty good shape.
“Our costs were always higher than the money we brought in through the studios, so we always had to work to fill that gap.
“We had our studios booked this year, but COVID-19 happened and it made things even harder.”
The Hive originated as a pilot project by the Canadian Badlands and Medalta around 2010. At that point in time, one had to apply to get studio time at the Hive. People were able to apply for three, six or 12 months and did not have to pay to use the studio.
After a couple years, the project ended and the Hive became a not-for-profit society thanks to a small group who took it over.
“After the project ended, we kept it running and had artists pay for the space they were using,” said Struck. “Our mission statement was to provide safe, affordable space to artists and creative people, and to exhibit their work in our gallery.”
Struck has been with the Hive since 2011 and has seen it transform over the years into a building with 10 studios. She is proud of what it became.
“It’s all about having a creative community and having a creative presence downtown,” she said. “I think our space was able to provide that creative community to so many artists over the years.”
Struck says the space will be missed.
“It’s hard to leave, for sure,” she said. “It’s difficult, but in a way it feels like it’s time and this is a natural ending in a way.
“I don’t think there’s anything else like this in the city, but maybe that will happen again in a different space in the future.”
