Stop by the ground floor of the building to catch SORTING: An Archaeology of Performance by Chris Creighton-Kelly, curated by Doug Jarvis.
During this research residency Chris will be visible and audible in the storefront as he sorts objects, documents, and ideas. Chris is exploring art systems, audience participation and cultural perspectives through an experimental process.
His artistic inquiry - while he sorts in real time - will be investigated both as a respectful homage and a tongue-in-cheek parody of the entire visual arts system.
May 13 – June 6, 2026
Wednesdays–Saturdays, 2–5pm
510 Fort Street, storefront window
Shux Shux and the Island invites visitors to write letters to the artists and to deposit them in the bundle bags that are located near the artists’ individual work.
Shux Shux and the Island is on now until June 20, 2026. We’re open Wednesday-Saturday Noon-5pm.
Next Social Friday! Join us on May 29th from 4-6pm. This month we will be engaging with the current exhibition Shux Shux and the Island through the writing station, the touchable art pieces and more.
Social Fridays happen once a month, these are low pressure, drop-in evenings with refreshments and activities.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Peter Cotton exhibition last weekend during Design Victoria.
If you didn’t catch it yet, there’s still time to visit! The exhibition will remain on view in the front window until Saturday. Our gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 12–5pm.
A selection of furniture by architect Peter Neve Cotton, created for his company Perpetua between 1950 and 1955. These works reflect a rigorous approach to proportion, material selection, joinery, and form that shaped his national and international legacy.
Also featured are several of his architectural projects, including his 1970s renovation of 510 Fort Street for Open Space. Co-curated by Patrick Rollins and Ben Clinton-Baker in collaboration with Wentworth Villa Architectural Heritage Museum.
Artist in residence Dahlila Charlie is in the gallery today! Stop by to learn more about what she is working on and check out the ongoing exhibition Shux Shux and the Island.
There are many ways to engage with the current exhibition Shux Shux and the Island including a writing station. Visitors are invited to share thoughts of the exhibition, memories of your grandmothers, and how the themes of the exhibition connect to you.
Shux Shux and the Island is on now until June 20, 2026. We’re open Wednesday-Saturday Noon-5pm.
Coming up May 1-3 in conjunction with Design Victoria.
Furniture designed by local architect Peter Neve Cotton for his company, Perpetua, between 1950 and 1955, will be on view in the main floor window space.
These works demonstrate a rigorous approach to proportion, material selection, joinery, and form, which would later establish him both nationally and internationally.
Also represented are several of Cotton’s architectural works, including his design renovation of 510 Fort St. for Open Space in the 1970s.
Co-curated by Patrick Rollins and Ben Clinton-Baker, presented in collaboration with Wentworth Villa Architectural Heritage Museum.
This exhibit is on view Friday, May 1 – Sunday May 3. 11–4pm at 510 Fort Street (main floor window)
After decades on the main floor beneath Open Space, Koto Japanese Restaurant has quietly closed its doors. From its early days with Hideko to Tinh’s care since 2012, it has been a place many of us returned to again and again.
We are grateful for the years of food and connection that lived here. It is hard to say goodbye to something that felt so warm and familiar.
As of December 2025, Open Space has taken over the main floor. While we carry Koto’s history with us, we are also beginning to imagine what this next chapter can look like. The space will open up slowly, shaped by artists and community.
If you have memories of Koto, we would love to hear them. And if you are passing by, keep an eye on the windows. New things are starting to take shape!
Shux Shux and the Island, curated by Nadine Spence, is a multi-artist exhibition at Open Space Arts Society that explores what it means to honour the grandmothers that came before, the journey of the salmon, and the stories of the grizzly bear from the interior to the coast. A ceremonious opening reception was held on April 18, 2026, creating a space for meaningful encounters and connections.
Shux Shux and the Island is on now until June 20, 2026. We’re open Wednesday-Saturday Noon-5pm.
We are hiring for two summer positions at Open Space through the Canada Summer Jobs program!
Curatorial Assistant.
Support exhibitions and public programming through research, tour development, and gallery operations. This role includes creating accessible tours, assisting with events and installations, and developing an independent project based on your curatorial interests.
Archive Assistant.
Work with our archives and database to organize, document, and improve access to over 50 years of materials. This role includes digitization, research support, gallery operations, and creating an independent project based on your archive and database interests.
Both positions run June 2 to August 22, 2026. $26 per hour, 30 hours/ week.
Learn more at the link in our bio!
Deadline May 10, 2026.
Modernist Furniture + Architectural Legacy 🪑🏛️
Step into the work of Peter Neve Cotton—architect, furniture designer, and preservationist—in this exhibition exploring a pivotal moment in his career. Featuring furniture designed for Perpetua (1950–55), the show highlights Cotton’s precise approach to proportion, material, and craft—alongside key architectural projects that shaped Victoria’s built environment.
Co-curated by Patrick Rollins @patrick_rollins + Ben Clinton-Baker @bcb250 in collaboration with Wentworth Villa, the exhibition is paired with a series of lectures that situate Cotton’s work within a broader design history.
📅 Exhibition Dates: Friday 1 May – Sunday 3 May, 11 AM – 4 PM
📍 Location: Open Space Gallery — 510 Fort St., Victoria
💬 Also: Panel Discussion (Free + Drop-in)
Sunday 3 May, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Wentworth Villa
Join Martin Segger, Allan Collier, and Ben Clinton-Baker for a conversation on Cotton’s wide-ranging career—from modernist furniture to heritage restoration.
Find out more: designvictoria.ca
Tomorrow! Spend the day out and about with some incredible local artists.
The seasonal VIVAS art crawl is back on Saturday with some amazing programming and openings happening in the building all day!
Honouring Our Grandmothers will be walking their Community Elements Chest from the Legislative Assembly 2:30pm to the Royal BC Museum at 3:30pm, before meeting at Open Space for the opening of Shux Shux and the Island at 5pm.
Honouring Our Grandmothers Healing Journey has been moving since 2021, passing through different Indigenous territories in a sacred, safe, grounding way. Entering and leaving on and by the waters, with the ancestors, Grandmothers, and wild salmon, walking on the lands, carrying the community Elements chest with the help of children, youth and supporters.
