For the first time in 40 years, the Photo Arts Club (PAC) will not be opening its doors to the public this September. According to Ema Suvajac, a member of the Photo Arts Club executive, PAC is required to hand over their keys to the space by Sept. 17 so that renovations can be made to accommodate the Guelph Queer Equality group.
For the last four decades, the Photo Arts Club has provided unlimited access to photography equipment, studio space, and darkroom facilities to University of Guelph students, as well as to the general public, for $20 per semester. On that note, Suvajac expressed the club’s belief that everyone should have affordable access to arts space.
[media-credit id=121 align=”aligncenter” width=”1020″]
“It was not our decision to close our doors and we are extremely concerned about how we will be able to function once half of the PAC space — the large darkroom [. . .] and the fully equipped studio — are destroyed,” Suvajac told The Ontarion via email. Unfortunately, holding on to all of their space was not a viable option according to the CSA.CSA President Chelsea Mulvale told The Ontarion that after the consultation between PAC, the CSA, and UC admin that took place over the summer, the Photo Arts Club decided to take their needs to the board level. Mulvale told The Ontarion that in order to keep a space in the UC for themselves, PAC would have had to submit a Request for Space.
Suvajac confirmed this detail for The Ontarion via email correspondence, explaining that the PAC’s intention was to submit a formal proposal to the CSA Board of Directors. Having been in communication with the CSA’s policy and transition manager, who has requested their name not be included in this article, Suvajac and the rest of the PAC executive decided that they would present at the September meeting so they would have time to organize and draft a quality proposal.
At the August board of directors meeting, CSA President Chelsea Mulvale submitted an information item to the board, updating them on the progress of renovations to the space, and requesting direction on how to proceed.
It was ultimately the board of directors’ decision to move forward with the renovations on schedule. Based on that schedule, and barring any complications, the Photo Arts Club should be able to re-enter their space by Oct. 1 of this year. According to Mulvale, the PAC has yet to respond regarding health and safety issues that were raised by the contractor regarding the space.Mulvale said that the CSA has worked diligently to help the Photo Arts Club make the most of their new space. They will have a private entrance from the hallway, one dark room, and modifications have been offered to help make the office space transition into a studio at will.
Mulvale stated that the CSA “is considering all the additional accommodations they can make in order to make sure that the club remains functional,” however PAC members are skeptical as to whether they will be able to maintain their usual functionality in the new space.
Photo by Alorra Griffiths/The Ontarion.