We want to build a grassroots venue in #yeg to support the growth and vibrant community of live arts and culture.
We (Mark Bellows & Ryan Brodziak from The Local Omnivore and Steve Derpack of JCL Productions) are teaming up to show the rest of Canada what Edmonton is really made of when it comes to the live arts and culture scene.
Picture this: An intimate 150 person venue serving the whole range of live arts & culture by offering a fresh and functional space for events including:
Live musical performances from all genres
DJ dance parties
Theatre & dance productions
Comedy shows
Film screenings
Poetry slams, literary events
Conferences & workshops
The bonus is, we will also endeavour to preserve history, repurpose and recycle as many materials as we can when we build the space.
We want the vibe to be welcoming, open-minded, and respectful. Our focus will be on ensuring artists feel their creativity flourishing. We believe in fair wages and are mindful of the unique differences in this industry our staff face. Basically, we want to create a place for all.
What We Need & What You Get
We need $190,000 in order to build and start the operations for Marvins Garden. The funds raised will be used for:
Permits, Fees, & Leases
Building & Construction Materials
Start-Up Operations
In order to raise this amount, we've come up with some really unique, and exciting rewards with promoting the future community in mind.
Rewards like a VIP weekend at the Edmonton Music Awards and custom paintings created in homage to your favourite music album. Plus, one-of-a-kind swag and recognition on our backer wall of fame.
What Marvins Garden Means to the Community
We want to build Marvins Garden in order to:
Create a healthy urban ecology;
Serve as an innovation hub and incubation space for artists; and to
Support the growth of Edmonton's live arts & culture scene
Every artist who has "made it," did so because of community venues like what we hope to build. The positive impact locally, nationally, and globally is priceless.
We believe we can build and run a successful venue because we have done this before. Mark and Ryan built The Local Omnivore brick and mortar location by hand, and have been at the helm since the company started in 2012. Steve has been running his own successful entertainment agency for more than twelve years now.
We believe we can do this, and need everyone in this amazing city to jump on board with us.
Risks & Challenges
There are always risks & challenges associated with starting a business, the first hurdle is finding the capital to build the space and having all the necessary building and operating permits in place. We believe we can overcome this with your help and because of our experience building and opening businesses in Edmonton.
We will also consult and collaborate with technical experts all along the way. We want this space to be perfect and suit the needs of the live arts community and its consumers.
Other Ways You Can Help
We get it if you can't buy rewards at this time, but there are many other ways you can support us, such as:
Helping us get the word out and making lots of noise about the campaign and the space;
Using all the share tools available on our Indiegogo page and other platforms.
Thank you so much for all of your support. We can't wait to see you all #liveatmarvinsgarden.
Sincerely,
Ryan, Mark, and Steve
Join the community- back this project at www.liveatmarvinsgarden.ca
