As some local businesses hang up closing signs, the Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture in Evanston continues to keep its doors open to artists.
The combination music-arts venue, 1245 Chicago Ave., opened April 3 of last year. Since then, the venue has regularly hosted performances with more than 150 audience members, said Jake Samuels, SPACE’s general manager. By its first anniversary, SPACE will have hosted about 200 events, Samuels said.
“It’s going surprisingly well,” he said. “January was our biggest month yet, and February looks like it might be even bigger. The room is running exactly as we envisioned it.”
The venue has, if anything, surpassed expectations, Samuels said. Initially created as a community organization, it has “found fans outside of Evanston,” he said.
SPACE has expanded its artistic reach, recently bringing in artist Tyrone Wells from Spokane, Wash. His music has been featured on popular television shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “Criminal Minds.”
“Nothing big will change here but the level of talent we bring in,” Samuels said. “As word gets out to audiences and we see bigger crowds, we also get out to artists. National artists are reaching out.”
Chicago-renowned Nicholas Tremulis, who played at SPACE last month, said he liked the venue because it focuses solely on music – not a bar atmosphere.
The local community has been receptive to SPACE, in part because of the organization’s outreach efforts, Samuels said.
WNUR hosted its Phoneathon kickoff at SPACE Feb. 19. The concert, which featured Cheer-Accident, The Lonesome Organist and the Netherfriends, spread the word about the annual fundraiser, said Weinberg senior Taylor Dearr, WNUR general manager.
Early on, SPACE expressed an interest in becoming a resource for Northwestern. So far, it’s been a good partnership, Dearr said.
“SPACE was very accommodating.” Dearr said. “Starting around the middle of last year, shortly after they opened, they contacted us and said they wanted to be involved with us in the future.”
WNUR will host another concert at SPACE in March, Dearr said. The upcoming concert will feature artists from around the country.
SPACE also offers a place for NU students to perform. Kelsey Wild, a Communication freshman, has performed at the venue twice.
“It was really easy on my side,” Wild said. “They approached me.”
SPACE organizers make an effort to be personable, said Wild, who has performed in other Chicago-area venues. Without SPACE, she wouldn’t have a place to perform in Evanston, she said.
“It has great sound,” Wild said. “I’m sure I’ll play there again. It’s always fun to play and see shows there.”
