Casa will be hosting an afternoon of free events on its 10th anniversary on May 13, 2023. (Photo: S Jones)

By Sarah Jones

Casa to celebrate one decade in Lethbridge May 13

May 11, 2023 | 10:19 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Casa is set to mark a historic milestone in Lethbridge.

Saturday, May 13, 2023, marks 10 years since the community center first opened its doors in the downtown core.

In the span of a decade, they’ve welcomed thousands upon thousands of residents to take part in classes, workshops, concerts, performances and events.

According to newly-appointed Executive Director Jana MacKenzie, Casa was 20 years in the making before it officially opened its doors in 2013.

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MacKenzie, who had formerly worked alongside the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge at the Bowman Arts Centre, explained, “Advocacy work to get a new community art centre was 20 years in the making. In the 80’s, the Bowman Arts Centre was at capacity, so when I got there in the mid 2000s, we just couldn’t offer new artists, we couldn’t offer space and things like that. So, we were turning people away on a daily basis.”

MacKenzie added, “That said, it was also kind of an inclusive space so we had organizations renting there, and you sort of had to be a member in order to participate in a lot of things at the building, so that was the number one thing that Casa did, it was just open the doors, provide more space and make it accessible.”

“Our rates for classes and rentals haven’t really gone up since we moved in 10 years ago and that’s something we pride ourselves on,” she said. “We want it to be accessible to everyone because we want it to be a place incubating the arts, so we wanted to make sure that everybody has access to it.”

Since Casa opened, the gallery has expanded to include the entire building featuring pieces of local art throughout the facility, and they created a dark room, a space where light sensitive works like photography can be created.

While the facility creates programming like classes and workshops for Lethbridge residents, its rental program has expanded to invite other non-art-based community groups to use the space, including the Moonlight Run.

MacKenzie also added that a lot of music programming comes from a partnership with the University of Lethbridge Conservatory, who uses the space frequently.

On its 10-year anniversary, Casa will welcome the public to take part in a free event highlighting the diverse arts, creativity, and interests that happen every day inside the interdisciplinary arts centers.

From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on May 13, the community is welcome to explore, connect and create at the facility.

Gallery tours happening at the top of every hour will take patrons through the building and behind the scenes, local art documentaries will play throughout the afternoon and studio demonstrations welcome people to meet artists working with several different mediums.

Free classes and workshops taking place include working with textile arts, creating clay tiles, group drumming and fiddling, introductory movement lessons like yoga and dance, and a look into working with light-sensitive projects in the dark room.

“If you’ve never been to the building, this is the day to come,” said MacKenzie.

A cake-cutting ceremony will be held at noon, and children’s activities like face painting, button making, community painting and chalk drawing will take place in the main atrium.

Casa will also welcome musician Oscar Lopez, who performed at the first concert at Casa 10 years ago, to play a free show outside the venue under their newly installed sails.

For more information on events and how to register, go to the Casa website.

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