Alberta’s space matching tool lists 1,000th venue
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2018
(Calgary AB) – SpaceFinder Alberta, the free-to-list, free-to-search online platform for short-term space, reached its milestone 1,000th venue listing today. SpaceFinder Alberta is a free province-wide online marketplace for short-term space rental for artists, arts organizations, non-profits, community groups and individuals. It connects people who need space with organizations who have space to rent. SpaceFinder Alberta is helping Albertans find suitable space for meeting, creating, rehearsing, presenting, collaborating, gathering or celebrating.
Joni Carroll, Arts Spaces consultant at Calgary Arts Development, is thrilled with the response to SpaceFinder in Alberta. “Our focus since launching in 2016 was getting venue operators to sign up their spaces and the response has been fantastic. Of all the 25 regions in the US and Canada, Alberta has had the largest uptake for a SpaceFinder community. People seem to really understand that SpaceFinder is great for our communities. Now we want to make sure that everyone who needs to book a space knows that this wonderful free tool is here.”
SpaceFinder Alberta’s 1,000th venue is the most recent offering from Voltage Creative. Collaborators Andrea Llewellyn, Kelly Johnsgaard, Ian Brooks, Cory Nespor, and Anna Hall have revitalized and repurposed part of the former Shamrock Hotel as a multi-purpose arts space in the community of Ramsay, near downtown Calgary. They will be opening and taking bookings soon.
“Our first space, Voltage Garage, was on SpaceFinder Alberta,” says Andrea Llewellyn, “so we didn’t think twice about listing our new spaces. We know SpaceFinder will help us get lots of bookings.”
SpaceFinder Alberta has successfully launched in Calgary, Edmonton, and other regions of Alberta. Since launching, SpaceFinder Alberta has had over 22,000 searches.
Whatever you need space for, whatever space you list, SpaceFinder Alberta makes finding the right match easier for Albertans. Find us on the web at spacefinderalberta.org or contact spaces@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
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Backgrounder
SpaceFinder is a proven technology created and developed by Fractured Atlas, a US non-profit arts service organization, with over 25 regional versions across North America, including Toronto and BC.
Calgary Arts Development, in partnership with ArtsBuild Ontario, Fractured Atlas, and Arts Habitat Edmonton launched SpaceFinder Alberta in Calgary in 2016 and in Edmonton in 2017. SpaceFinder Alberta receives generous support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.
Many individuals and groups in the creative, non-profit and small business communities spend considerable resources trying to find suitable spaces for themselves or appropriate renters for space they operate. SpaceFinder Alberta helps them focus on their core business by streamlining the search for space or users.
With over 1,000 venues listed, it’s getting much easier for Albertans to find and book space in their communities on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis. SpaceFinder Alberta streamlines the search for appropriate and affordable space for celebrations, choir rehearsals, soccer club annual general meetings, dance recitals, art creation, and so on.
Venue operators can efficiently connect with the right renters for their under-used space through this online tool. It’s not too late to sign up a venue: owners and operators of bookable space throughout Alberta are invited to list their spaces on SpaceFinder for free.
What People Are Saying About SpaceFinder Alberta
“We used SpaceFinder Alberta and found an amazing space for our leadership team to meet,” says Victoria M. “I didn’t know that Loft 112 [literary hub in East Village] existed in our community until I used SpaceFinder Alberta. What a great online resource!”
“The information that can be provided is robust and allows so much to be shared—for FREE! We are really excited to see SpaceFinder grow and become the go-to site for community organizations of all types.” – Fort Calgary
“We signed up and have had a number of amazing community groups use our space for board meetings and events already. We look forward to seeing this project grow.” – ATB Entrepreneur Centre
“As a not-for-profit ourselves, keeping our rental rates very competitive for our clients is important to us, so having a great service like SpaceFinder available to us- and at no cost- is a valuable asset. We’ve really enjoyed the flexibility and control we have with SpaceFinder Alberta!” – The Playhouse Association, Edmonton
“We had to close for renovations and SpaceFinder Alberta helped us recoup all of our lost revenue within half the time.” – Red Deer Public Library
Further Information
Helen Moore-Parkhouse
Director, Communications and Engagement, Calgary Arts Development
Phone: (office) 403.264.5330 ext. 102; (mobile) 587.227.0150
Email: helen.moore-parkhouse@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
Joni Carroll
Arts Spaces, Calgary Arts Development
Phone: 403.264.5330 ext. 108
Email: joni.carroll@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
