A liquor license would make the VEC viable, says Amanda Smith

Artsy Type - June 11

If you’re a lover of arts and culture in Mile Zero, chances are you’ve patronized the Victoria Event Centre at one point. From dance performances to concerts to cabaret theatre, the upstairs venue at 1415 Broad has provided a multi-purpose space for a diverse range of groups over the last six years.

But despite being booked almost solid, general manager Amanda Smith says the VEC is just scraping by. One possible solution? A primary liquor license.

“[A liquor license] frees up money to put back into the community, to better the venue, to give back to the arts community, to give back to our clients,” she says.

Currently, groups using the VEC—mostly non-profit arts and culture societies—have to apply for a Special Occasion License each time they want to serve booze.

Smith says she spends 30 to 40 percent of her time helping groups apply for SOLs. “It is an overwhelming, time-consuming process,” she says. “Also, a lot of small groups and individuals aren’t eligible to apply for a SOL.”

The VEC and its supporters have a hearing before City Council on Thursday regarding the proposed primary license. Smith hopes they can educate councillors and the public about the VEC and their mandate—that the VEC is out there to support arts, culture and community.

“They’re going, ‘Are you a cultural community or a community centre or a bar or a theatre? What are you?’ We’re trying to say, ‘We’re all of those things.’ Well, we’re not a bar, but we’re a community centre, a cultural centre, we’re a theatre, a dance-performance venue.”

For the Impromaniacs, a local improv troupe that uses the VEC several times a year, not having to deal with SOLs would be a huge load off.

“It would save us a lot of red tape while still being able to offer that arts-centre ambiance of having a glass of wine or beer or cider, besides all the non-alcoholic stuff they have there,” says managing director Jonathan Argue, adding that many of their patrons are underage anyway. (The license application includes an age exemption, so under-19s could still patronize the space, but not be served booze).

Smith agrees. “The space is moreso for people who don’t want to go to the bar. The focus isn’t on drinking, it’s only an accent.”

The VEC is encouraging folks to come out and support their application, which goes before Council at 7:30 pm Thursday, June 11 at City Hall.