Seven years ago, RadStorm – a collectively run non-profit – moved into 2177 Gottingen Street in Halifax with the goal of eventually purchasing the building outright to run its events and programs. After a longstanding fundraising campaign, a global pandemic and a major donation from a local doctor, the group is finally ready to achieve its goal this year. “I always knew we’d do it,” said Capp Larsen, a member of RadStorm. “It’s been a long campaign. We’re all very happy to see it happen. It’s given us an extra boost. “We’re excited to move forward.” Dr. Bob Fredrickson, who ran Nova Scotia’s first AIDS clinic in Halifax throughout the 1980s, donated $450,000 for RadStorm to buy the building. The donation, combined with the group’s fundraising efforts and a commitment of $100,000 from the Halifax Regional Municipality, will allow them to take over the space and make some needed updates. “The goal was $500,000,” Larsen said. “The building cost $450,000 and we raised more for extra expenses. We’re looking at renovations in soundproofing and ventilation and fire safety.” RadStorm is a community-driven all-ages space that offers resources and equipment for people to explore and create independent art and music. Its origins stretch back to 2005 with the founding of the Anchor Archive Zine Library. “It started in a living room and it grew,” Larsen said. In 2007 the Inkstorm collective was formed to maintain a silk-screening studio on Roberts Street. Five years later, the Sad Rad music collective set up in a venue above a radiator shop. In 2014, Inkstorm and Sad Rad joined forces, amalgamating their names to form RadStorm. The Anchor Archive joined them on Almon Street in 2016. “Radstorm is a collective of collectives,” Larsen said. “They are providing a space or resource to basically share alternative media and art, and share resources for people to make their own art. “Be a space anyone can have access to.” RadStorm moved to its current Gottingen Street home in 2018 and launched a campaign to buy the building in 2019. Their efforts got sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they revamped their efforts in recent years, seeking support from the community and municipal government. The Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee approved $100,000 for the collective earlier this year. A report for the committee noted there is a lack of all-ages music venues in the city. “While RadStorm does not focus entirely on all-age music performances and rehearsal space, that is a large piece of their operations,” the report reads. “It is the only local venue that provides regular live music and rehearsals opportunities for youth, and it is identified that a decline in RadStorm’s music programming would further heighten the need for all-age music venues. “Its venue is heavily used, supports emerging artists from various art disciplines, and provides specialized assets (such as a zine library, screen printing studio, and recording services) that are not readily available in the municipality.” Dr. Fredrickson learned about RadStorm’s efforts to buy the building during a community bond investor program. “This massive donation from Dr. Bob has let us realize the dream we’ve had for a decade or more - to own our own space,” said RadStorm member Daniel MacKay in a news release. “We have moved from place to place over the years because landlords have wanted to repurpose the space. Dr. Bob’s donation lets us settle down for the long term.” RadStorm will be celebrating the purchase of the building with an open house event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. There will be music, food, tours and demonstrations. “It will be a nice opportunity to thank the people who made it possible to buy the building,” Larsen said. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
