Victoria creative hub gives local artists a space to be seen

From the outside, the Archer Community Hub looks like simply a gallery, with paintings hung on walls and displayed on easels.

But the space along Victoria’s Fort Street is much more than that.

The hub also operates as a carving workshop, educational space and recording studio that hosts weekly hip-hop freestyle sessions — filling a gap its members say exists for working artists in the city.

Jonathan Thompson, a music producer and project manager who goes by Johnny G, took over management of the hub in July 2025 alongside gallery manager Cleopatra Joseph.

He had spent years before recording local artists for free out of a one-bedroom apartment.

“I noticed … there’s a shortage of spaces like this,” Johnny G said from his production studio in the community hub.

“That’s why we built it. We try to merge really talented, local artists with young, emerging artists — and you’d be surprised, some of these young, new up-and-coming artists even teach some of the old Gs a trick or two.”

The Archer Hub now has over 30 members, artists and volunteers in its collective.

The Archer Gallery has operated on Fort Street for eight years. Under Johnny G and Joseph, it has expanded beyond what it was, a consignment space, into a multi-use creative community.

“Welcome to the TARDIS,” said Joseph. “It’s a lot bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.”

The front gallery displays work from painters, sculptors and textile artists, representing Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, 2SLGBTQ+, neurodivergent and disabled communities.

“Every part of our community is reflected in this hub,” Joseph said.

“This is a space for people who wouldn’t really be seen in the higher-end galleries — because one, it’s super expensive to get in there, and two, it’s intimidating. We want to create a space where anybody can just walk in and feel at home.”

Through a middle door is the carving and woodwork shop, where Nuu-chah-nulth artist Guy Louie works Monday through Friday, hand-carving panels and paddles, in the tradition of the late master carver Art Thompson.

Before renting space at the hub, Louie worked out of a converted garage at home.

“It’s a nice space to be,” he said. “I’m just happy to be a part of what’s going to grow to be a really big part of the Victoria community.”

‘We’re trying to build a family’

Further back, past a narrow corridor, is the recording studio and lounge — what Johnny G calls “headquarters” — where engineers teach and artists record.

It’s also where Toronto-transplant Rob Hydrae found his footing four months ago after stumbling into the hub looking for a creative community.

“Back in Toronto, it felt like a really competitive industry,” Hydrae said. “I felt like I found a community [at Archer]. You can come here and be who you are, make whatever kind of art you want, and you’re welcome.”

On Friday nights, the front gallery hosts Friday Night Freestyle — now in its ninth volume — an open mic hip-hop jam session drawing DJs, rappers, singers, songwriters, saxophonists, guitarists and didgeridoo players into the space.

“There’s no criticism, no put-downs — it’s all positive here,” said Johnny G.

“We’re trying to build a family. That’s why we started it. It’s healing.”

The hub runs on rent from studio tenants, community donations and support from funders, including Creative B.C. and Telus.

Johnny G said more programming is planned — including boxing, piano lessons and finance workshops.

“This is just the beginning, folks,” he said. “We’re just getting started.”