Falling into Cinqhole: An Interview With Matías, Anthony, & Eric
Credit: Gary Franks
As cabin fever finds its way into the lives of many, I constantly find myself escaping it by seeking nostalgia in the shows, community gatherings, and event spaces that I was once able to experience before COVID-19.
I had the opportunity to indulge in this nostalgia when I (virtually) sat down with the creators of Cinqhole; a DIY art space and venue tucked away just off of Wellington Street, in Hintonburg, in what was once a welder’s shop; but more recently had been operating as an alternative arts and event space called General Assembly. Having the groundwork laid out, Cinqhole was able to build from it, a space for creatives to experiment and for communities of all ages to congregate, making it a major support for emerging creatives in Ottawa. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, they were forced to permanently close their doors.
Credit: Conor Murphy
I am deeply saddened by the loss of such an impactful resource for so many, and want nothing more than for the pandemic to be over so that we can begin to rebuild what it has damaged. Although it won’t be a smooth transition, Matías, Anthony, and Eric have given me hope for the future of Ottawa’s arts and culture scene. When they were given no other option but to shut down, they reached out to the public to help recover some of their financial losses. Their goal was surpassed, and they received a sumptuous donation from supporters which totaled more than $10,000.
Eric Scharf: “We wanted to be a venue that people really wanted to be a part of, and that fundraiser clearly demonstrated that what we created was something people wanted and were really sad to see go... [those who donated] were big champions of us, and I think it has us all motivated to one day do it again in some shape or form.”
It’s not surprising that Ottawa’s art community would come together to thank Cinqhole for their initiative, but it just shows how much of a want and need for spaces that facilitate creativity in the city. “It’s a big phenomenon that artists leave Ottawa because there isn’t the resources or infrastructure that they need to do their thing,” Anthony Cardozo says.
Having lived in Ottawa for the past 6 years, I’ve seen too many of my friends and acquaintances follow the pattern and feel the desire to leave the city to pursue their work as creatives in bigger metropolitan's like Toronto and Montreal because they are unable to find spaces to nurture their practices due to gatekeeping and lack of resources. Now I ask myself, how can we overcome this?
Credit: Matías Muñoz
“Ottawa is like that person who you know is full of potential and just needs that bit of encouragement,” says Eric. Cinqhole gave the necessary push of encouragement to the arts community by presenting dynamic programming that inspired others, having an openness to new proposals, providing affordable rental pricing, locating themselves downtown, and by prioritizing inclusivity, especially in youth.
“All ages events were so important to us,” Anthony says. “Eric and I grew up here and we had a lot of access to all-age shows when we were younger and just getting into stuff, and it was totally life-changing to have access to that kinda thing at that age... and that was a huge priority for us.” They know how important those formative years are from their own experiences, and strove to positively shape those years for the youth of Ottawa through the creation of Cinqhole. I can also say that it was so refreshing to have a venue in the city that was not fueled by alcohol consumption and bar sales.
Though 2021 has been truly uneventful thus far, now is a better time than ever to reflect on the past and present art scene in Ottawa, and begin conceptualizing ways of improving its future. It’s hard to say what those steps might be, but the biggest hurdle for most is getting started and creating the change that you want to see in your community. “Just because it doesn’t generate money right away doesn’t mean it’s not valuable, and I think people need to remember that creating something that contributes to your community even if it doesn’t make you money can be really healthy and good for other people, as well as trying to take the focus off [of] capitalism,” says Matías Muñoz.
What started off as a great idea, devoid of financial interest, resulted in long-lasting memories throughout the Ottawa community. Although I will miss their space, I hope that others follow in their footsteps.
Credit: Gary Franks