The New Black

As I stated before, I have been writing articles for 24 Hours Calgary. I can't post them anywhere until some time has passed so they'll always be posted on this blog like a month or two after the fact. This is the first that I'm posting here. It's from the beginning of January, and it's a piece about a punk rock youth center in Calgary called The New Black.


Read it after the jump...

Neighbourhood Watch:

The New Black Center for Music and Art

Some may remember a few articles last December in a couple of popular Calgary papers about a local all-ages venue called The New Black Center for Music and Art potentially being shut down by the city. While this may not normally be big news, this is not necessarily your typical punk rock venue – “the center includes a record label, a pro-tools recording studio, rehearsal and storage space for artists and musicians, and a staged performance area” says co-administrator Jay Sinclair. “We also offer lessons and provide a free 'Experience Music' class through the Community and Recreation Services offices of the city.”

That after-school music class is “an eight session, in-depth look into the history of music and popular genres, live demos, hands-on application and instrument recording, and so much more”.

So why would the city try to shut down a center that offers after school programs to the community under the watchful eye of City Hall?

“Because the center has so many uses, we were never really shut down, though the live musical performance aspect of our business, which generates up to 60 percent of our revenue, came under scrutiny due to a personal attack from another tenant. We were eventually cleared by the city, but on the positive side, it really put a spotlight on us”.

Thankfully this ugly situation is now safely behind Sinclair and the rest of the dedicated staff at The New Black, so 24 Hours asked him what he hopes is in store for the future - “I would love to see this concept start to inspire people in other cities to pursue something similar as it is truly needed by the artists, musicians, and lovers of art and music who benefit from it.”

Locally-minded, but with much wider implications, The New Black is on of Calgary's true grassroots successes and a shining example to the rest of Canada that with the right mixture of enthusiasm for your community and a whole lot of tenacity you can create something positive that still rocks.