The Sanctuary Arts Centre To Debut New Downstairs Stage
WRITTEN BY: KATIE GORDON // THE BOOM AT NOON
The exterior of The Sanctuary Arts Centre in downtown Dartmouth.
(The Sanctuary Arts Centre Facebook page)
The Sanctuary Arts Centre, nestled in the heart of Dartmouth, has been making waves since officially opening its doors on January 28th, 2023. The renovated church-turned-music-venue has been steadily expanding and renovating its facilities over the past year, surprising even its own team with the rapid pace of progress.
Stefano from The Sanctuary Arts Centre team says the community seems to be really excited about the venue. "The shows have all been fantastic and the audiences have been really receptive," says Stefano. This building has so much history behind it (100+ years) and it seems like every fourth person through the door has memories of coming here as a kid. We consider continuing that legacy as a valuable community space to be a major responsibility. I’m pleased to say that so far the reviews have been very positive,” they add.
This week marks the opening of a new stage within the venue located in the basement. "The room itself is quite large - 60 is the comfortable capacity right now, but we hope to expand that in the future," says Stefano. The primary stage, The Sanctuary Theatre accommodates around 220-230 people, with an additional 100 seats available in the annex. This basement space, yet to be officially named, aims to provide an intimate setting for a diverse range of artists, aligning with the venue's vision of being a creative hub for artists in the city.
The inaugural event in the downstairs venue features The McMillan’s Camp Boys and takes place on Thursday, November 16. Stefano says that some of the more complex features may not quite be finished in time for the event, but there will be space for the band to put on a great show. “We’re incredibly excited to have The McMillan’s Camp Boys back; they were on the theatre stage earlier in the year and sounded amazing,” says Stefano. “Our bar team has been blasting them over the speakers after every event. It’s going to be a really fantastic show and we’re honoured to have them christening a new stage for us.”
Recognizing the importance of community involvement, Stefano emphasizes the ongoing need for volunteers. "We’re always adding new opportunities for people to help out and share their ideas and skills." Those interested in volunteering can sign up on The Sanctuary Arts Centre website.
For those considering booking the venue for their events the best spot to start is on the HRM Events website where you can get a copy of their virtual brochure, but you can also send an email straight to booking@sancutaryartscentre.com and chat with the team directly.
Looking ahead, the team at the arts centre says each month seems to bring a new addition to the space. "This downstairs stage is certainly a big one for us. Hopefully, we’ll have a lot of fantastic acts coming up," says Stefano, hinting at exciting announcements. "The plan for the new year isn’t exactly to slow down on improving the space either."
To stay up-to-date with all things Sanctuary Arts Centre, explore their website, subscribe to their newsletter and visit HRMEvents.com for announcements, including details on the upcoming ‘Christmas at the Sanctuary’ programming at hrmevents.com/christmas.
