Founded 2008 Location London, Ontario | Focus Arts, Music, Culture | |
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Method Organization, promotion Website openhouseartscollective.com | ||
The Open House Arts Collective is a group of artists, musicians, and art enthusiasts based in London, Ontario. The group is also referred to as the Oh! Arts Collective, an abbreviation of Open House. Its goal is to "motivate, support, and inspire" the London arts community through creative events.
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History
The Open House Arts Collective was formed in 2008 by several groups in London, including the Viking Swimmers of 1926, a previous arts collective; the Yale Speakeasy, a local split house turned venue, and local musicians, including several members of Olenka and the Autumn Lovers.
Many of the founding members currently attend or graduated from secondary and post secondary school in London, Ontario including Fanshawe College, University of Western Ontario and H. B. Beal Secondary School in the BealArt program. The organization is recognized by the City of London Arts Council and the Ontario Nonprofit Network.
Projects
Open House has organized, promoted or sponsored music and art shows at the Alex P. Keaton, Call the Office, the Yale Speakeasy, the Black Shire Pub, Colborne Street United Church, the East Village Arts Co-op, Forest City Gallery, Chaucer's Pub, Pandemic Nightclub and others with artists from the London area and abroad, including bands from across Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Open House organized and promoted a White Album Tribute Show at the London Music Club as the Viking Swimmers of 1926. The organization also partnered with the Grand Theatre, Ontario to promote theatre productions. The group is involved with a public art project at the University of Western Ontario with the University Students' Council, including curating a public art space. The group organized a musical performance for Doors Open London's 2009 launch.
Oh! Fest
The Collective's largest project to date is an indie music festival, Oh! Fest, which takes place during the month of April. The first annual Oh! Fest took place April 24–26, 2009. The festival includes only Canadian talent, including acts from around Ontario and other provinces.
2009 list of performers
Oh! Records
Open House Recording Company is an independent Canadian record label operated in association with the Open House Arts Collective. The label supports independent London musicians.
The first official release by the Open House Recording Co. was OH! Compilation One (OH001) a compilation album of 12 London-based bands and musicians on March 21, 2009. The label was also responsible for the reissue of Olenka and the Autumn Lovers' EP Papillonette.