W2 Belongs to Me Community Meeting

December 18, 2012

In case you hadn’t heard, W2 Media Arts is fighting to stay alive in Woodwards. I’ve edited the version sent to my inbox this morning:

The City is working to push W2 out over non-payment of $90,000 in amenity/strata fees, despite clear demands in correspondence as far back as February 2012 that W2 needs to receive services for these fees. Instead of hiding behind “legal” arguments about how they can’t do anything, the City should respect the local communities’ capacity and ability to build a centre inclusive for all – not just the market.

Members are invited to an information meeting to learn about the City of Vancouver’s threats to evict W2 from the Woodward’s heritage building. Learn about the organization and find out how you can participate in the community’s response to the attempt to evict W2 on December 31. RSVP here to the community gathering tomorrow, Wednesday, December 19.

If you’re not able to attend the meeting, follow the conversation on Twitter. Every morning, W2 delivers an exciting daily radio program both on 100.5FM and via their podcast. During this time, they will pose questions to the W2 Board members, the City of Vancouver, Building Communities Society, Vancity, and listeners in the community.

 They’ll also discuss W2’s financial challenges which threaten W2’s capacity to operate a sustainable community media arts centre.

Instead of attempting to gentrify W2’s grassroots community out out of Woodward’s, City Council and staff should be stepping in to address their own failures to act on City policies for City properties including wheelchair access and public bathroom policies.

W2 has persevered against four previous City attempts to block community access to Woodwards. W2 has built a community-engaged media arts centre that works to unite Vancouverites across race, gender, and class and is looking to keep that momentum going.

If Woodward’s does not work for the inner-city community and those who squatted Woodward’s in hopes of urban renewal, then perhaps W2 has to go elsewhere and bring the community with them.

This is an opportunity to learn more about what W2 is doing, help connect with like-minded people to defend W2, and build a campaign. W2 (R)evolution needs your help now!

W2 Belongs 2 Me members’ meetings are designed to engage W2 fans. The session will be important for members, programming partners, volunteers and staff to find common interests in order to protect the grassroots values of W2 in an otherwise hostile gentrified Woodward’s environment.

Background on the eviction being served to W2 can be found here.

W2 Belongs to Me: Community Information Meeting
Date: December 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Venue: W2 Media Café, 111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver