Investing in the Tracks.

From 2022-2023 a team of creative professionals got together to complete a cosmetic infrastructure upgrade to the Trackside Art Gallery that included removing defunct pannels from the top of the gallery space and removing old electrical infrastructure.

The project also included one time funding to hold as massive co-created graffiti jam with the Trackside Paint Jam and ECAH.

Project History

In 2021 members of the urban art community approached ECAH with a desire to remove the old panels at the top of the Trackside Art Gallery.

Wanting to respect the artists and writers currently working at the tracks, ECAH partnered with the Ministry of Casual Living (formerly with an artist-run studio space on Viewfield Road) to undertake a 3-month long feasibility study to hear directly from the wider community.

Project Goals

Our current project goals are:

  • Remove the old panels on the top row of the tracks

  • Remove unsafe electrical wiring; install new lighting for artists

  • Obtain a formal legal access agreement between the CRD and Island Rail Corridor

  • Formalize “handshake” agreements between business owners and the urban art community; protecting the site as an urban art “free wall”

Outreach Findings

The Ministry of Casual Living and the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub undertook a 3-month feasibility study and public outreach initiative to hear from urban artists and trail users.

We hired a third-party researcher / facilitator and heard from over 100 people throughout the consultation period.

Please contact us to request a copy of the formal research report.

  • Through survey data, social media and in-person conversations we received an overwhelmingly positive response to the artwork at the Trackside Art Gallery. Both artists and viewers feel that public art is a therapeutic experience.

    Main reasons people enjoy the Trackside artwork:

    1. The art inspires change

    2. The art is valuable, free, always open and anyone can experience it

    3. The art is excellent

    4. The art is an alternative visual arts experience.

  • People expressed concern about the top row panels and general safety at Trackside.

    There was near universal agreement that the top row panels need to be removed and replaced with spray paint-based artwork.

    Artists and trail visitors felt restoring the lights would be valuable to highlight the artwork during darker hours. Some mixed views were expressed on lighting upgrades with consideration to light pollution and people who reside in the area experiencing homelessness.

  • Most artists did not want any formal “curation” of the area or formal intervention from an arts organization, however most people we spoke with were pleased to hear about the top row panels being removed and the area receiving resources.

    From survey data and conversations we heard three themes for future opportunities: physical space improvements, amenities and social storytelling.

  • Most people were not sure if the Trackside was a strictly legal site and were unsure of the precise boundaries of the “free wall.”

    Some people expressed concerns that if the Trackside were “shut down,” unwanted graffiti would become a problem.

    Some people expressed a desire to see the Trackside expanded to the stretch of walls between Fairview Road and Lampson Street.

    Unrelated to the public outreach period, ECAH has received written confirmation from the following units that artists are legally welcome to paint:

    1-808 & 3-808 Viewfield Road via Owner

    2-808 Viewfield Road via Director of Operations on behalf of Owner

    800 Viewfield Road via Executive Assistant on behalf of Owner

    ECAH has also started the process to formalize a legal access agreement between the Capital Regional District and Island Rail Corridor. Both parties have been supportive of the current urban art community.

  • The Trackside is a widely celebrated massive public art space that runs on the passion and commitment of citizens and artists.

    Artists would welcome some support to keep those who visit the Trackside safe from failing infrastructure and explore new opportunities for the space, but only if supporters are aware of the grassroots and defined culture that helps the Trackside thrive.

    Artists would like to ensure the Tracks aren’t co-opted by corporations, professional arts groups, or even small groups of artists within the community.