Artists, musicians, activists and a wide variety of community members came out Saturday for the launch of 10C’s new location at 42 Carden St.
“This is 10C’s launch celebration,” said founding member and executive director Julia Grady. “We are calling it our epic party.”
Grady and co-founder Annie O’Donoghue started 10 Carden in 2008 at their former location at 10 Carden St. They have since rebranded and moved to the site of the former Acker’s Furniture Store.
“We are expanding what we were doing down the street for the last seven years and just doing more of it in a great and amazing way,” said Grady. “This celebrates the renovations, purchase and financing of this building and we’re bringing all of our members in the community together to celebrate the possibilities that exist.”
10C has become a popular hub for activists and community groups and the new location promises to broaden their opportunities and services.
“The summary snapshot is a mix of private offices for not-for-profits and social benefit organizations,” said Grady. “There are 12 different rooms that can be used by two people to 200 people. There is an LGBTQ library hosted. It has allowed us to bring on more members, let more people host their own events in here, allowing people to connect and develop partnerships - those kinds of things.”
The event Saturday started with a First Nations, Me’tis and Inuit ceremony led by M’ikmaq representative Carol Tyler acknowledging the land that Guelph sits on as Attawandaron Territory
“We acknowledge that we have been blessed to be in this land between the two rivers,” said Tyler.
Tyler performed a smudging ceremony and shared a number of First Nations stories and traditions. The ceremony was followed by a full schedule of exhibits, performances, workshops and activities for guests of all ages.
An exhibit of portraits entitled Red/Blue by Guelph artist Greg Denton lined the walls of the 4th floor community classroom and on the 3rd floor were sculptures by Katie Wilde and Val Pugilese.
There were a number of workshops including an an all-ages improv session with Jay Reid from the Making Box.
Musical performances included, The Royal City Ukulele Ensemble, The Lifers, harpist Leslie Shapiro, Brave Moon, Ajay Heble and the Vertical Squirrels, Citizen Jane, Onion Honey, Ten Boy Summer and Annie Sumi.
Guelph Spoken Word hosted a performance in the 2nd floor sunroom featuring poets such as Jay Wilson, Truth Is and Beth Anne Ellipsis.
A pop up shop operated by three generations of the same family Mikaella Grant, Michelle Arnold and Camille Arnold sold donated clothes and jewellery made by women artisans in Lesotho Africa with proceeds going to the Bracelet of Hope campaign.
There was also face painting and other activities for children.
“There are 10 c-words that we have rebranded from 10 Carden to 10C,” said Grady. “Community, care and connection are some of them and today we are here to celebrate. The purpose here is to just bring everyone together, show them what’s possible, what is happening in the space already with our members and to just have a great community party.”
