Jasper’s new Habitat for the Arts is open and waiting to be occupied by artists and performers of all kinds, with spaces for everything from painting, to pottery and film editing.

The new Habitat opened on Nov. 9 in the old courthouse building on Patricia Street. The second-floor space has a beautiful view of Whistlers Mountain, ready to inspire a painter or writer. 

So far a theatre group has used the space for a class, and the Brown Bag Lunch series kicked off with cartoonist Deke Hammel, on Nov. 15. 

Marianne Garrah, who helped open up the space, is providing tours to anyone interested. She said since learning they had the keys to the building on Oct. 29, they have received bookings to use the space.

“The word is out now,” Garrah said. “The last two weeks of November the calendar is pretty full.”

The first big event the space will host is Minifest on Nov. 25. The event will start at the Habitat at 6:30 p.m., with a film called Reel Injun, and live demonstrations of art. Then the show will move on to Evil Dave’s Grill for live music with Seth and Shara, and Maria in the Shower. 

Garrah said the event will be streamed live online at iotad.ca

“We will be webcasting it for those who can’t make it out,” Garrah said. “(However) I would rather have them come out.”

There will be a lantern making workshop on Dec. 12, a Barb Brooks exhibit in the People’s Gallery on Dec. 10 and a Children of Autumn film night on Dec. 3. At the Habitat, a full list of arts events in Jasper can be found. 

On Jan. 16, the Habitat will have its official grand opening just in time for Jasper in January. The event will have the first annual time auction, where instead of a fee to come in, guests will offer five hours of their time.

“It will be quite a lively place,” Garrah said. 

It will also launch the Habitat’s volunteer program, where hours will be logged. Volunteers will receive benefits such as dollars to spend in the volunteer store. The time auction is modelled after Time Raisers, a company that organizes time auctions for big-city businesses. More information on volunteer opportunities can be found at the Habitat.

The People’s Gallery is what the former courtroom is being called. Garrah said it will be the space for upcoming exhibits she usually has to find space for in the busy community of Jasper. 

“It’s nice now, that they have a home,” she said. 

Besides the courtroom gallery, the Habitat has many rooms that Garrah said will be used for a variety of different art mediums. Several small rooms are ready to house a painter or writer, for those who are looking for a quiet space. People looking to get out of a crowded home with kids for a few hours, and not have to clean up after each session, can take advantage of the space. Rooms can be booked by the week or month. 

There will soon be a pottery studio as well, hosted by Julie MacMath of Dish Pottery. She has a studio in the industrial area. 

MacMath said it will be nice to have a space where she can have youth after school classes, and not have to have them walk all the way to the industrial area. 

“This is going to be way more accessible for kids and adults,” MacMath said. 

Pottery classes should start in January. MacMath said she will be holding classes for kids, adults and possibly a mom and tot class. The classes will be small to allow for more one-on-one time with the teacher. 

“I’m excited, it’s going to be great,” MacMath said. 

Also expected to go into the space is a film editing room with AVS software. There will be four computers available to use. 

Garrah hopes the film editing room will encourage local filmmakers to enter in the Yellowhead Rotary Arts Festival this April. The theme for the festival in 2011 is film. 

“We’re hoping we’ll get some filmmakers out from Jasper,” Garrah said. 

The Brown Bag Lunch series that began on Nov. 15 will continue every Monday at 12:10 p.m. Garrah hopes to have more sessions each week as they grow. 

The Jasper Community Habitat for the Arts is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.