The Evolution of Studio 415
On the corner of St Laurent and des Pins lies a tall yet unassuming building that you might recognise from the bold lettering that spells out “HALBRO BLDG.” For the past few decades, its lofts have served as a sort of haven for artists looking to rent studios or find a place to stay—and if you were to climb up the stairs to the fourth floor, you’d find Studio 415, which promises to be exactly that sort of haven for any creatives looking for a space to experiment with their craft.
“I’ve been in Montreal since 2008, and I’ve seen a lot of really beautiful spaces come up before falling apart and disappearing back into the city… I think a space like this is an increasingly rare resource,” says Ted Stafford, who runs Studio 415 with his partner Birdie Gregor. “I started renting the loft in 2011 and lived here for ten, twelve years… and when we moved out, we decided we didn’t really want to see the space go back into the landlord’s hands. We felt like we needed to keep the space alive.”
Stepping into the studio myself, it’s immediately clear as to why. It’s a large loft, with high ceilings and huge windows that allow everything inside to be bathed in natural sunlight. The studio also features an impressive lighting rig that allows for plenty of customisation, a large wall-to-wall mirror, and an adjustable stage to fit all performance needs. In true DIY spirit, all the renovations were completed by Ted and Birdie themselves.
When Ted first started renting the loft, it was nothing more than an empty room with a big pile of building materials in the corner. He tells me about what the space was like in its early days: “We spent a lot of time sleeping on mattresses on the floor [...] while we built the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen. We built a mezzanine level over the kitchen to serve as the third room. I don’t think it was very comfortable, but was a bit of a revolving door for musicians… Our friend Mac DeMarco even lived in there for like eight months.”
They were heavily inspired by the Montreal DIY scene in those days, and a big part of that inspiration was the venue Lab Synthèse. “I remember how electric that felt to me to have access to this kind of run-down old industrial space where you could really make the space into whatever you wanted,” Ted recalls, and mentions how that experience kicked off the long journey to where Studio 415 is today.
“Our first event here was a gallery show. We had a FASA [Fine Arts Student Alliance] grant for that, and we used most of the funding to build shelving… That was also the same event we had both Grimes and Sean Nicholas Savage play on a makeshift stage right where the current stage is. It looks a lot different today but the FASA shelves are still here!”
Though Studio 415 has seen plenty of brilliant paintings, photos, and other art be showcased within its four walls over the past decade, they’re now trying to do something different. One of their main goals is that the space be used as a rehearsal studio—for theatre, music, dance, and all performing arts.
“We want to foster creativity, really encourage experimentation and performance creation type of work,” Ted explains. “The city is short on affordable rehearsal and creation space, so I hope we can be a refuge for performing artists who have been squeezed out of other spaces by ever climbing real-estate prices and the transition of these types of former industrial spaces into condos and tech companies.”
He adds that the space can completely transform into anything depending on the project. The cheerful natural light would be great for anyone looking to use the studio for photography, but it can also be blacked out with full curtains if needed. They’re also happy to provide additional technical services if people need assistance with setting up.
Some of the recent programming held at Studio 415 has included an ambient music performance, a multidisciplinary experiment with light and music, as well as several successful theatre runs for various shows. (They also hosted Forget The Box’s annual fundraiser, Sleazy Christmas, just this past December!)
As a space for artists that is run by artists themselves, Studio 415 is one of the last stands in the Plateau that really encourages this sort of creative freedom. Beyond providing this service as a studio space, they are also interested in meeting others in the DIY scene and ultimately serving the community. If people want to get involved, they are very open to talking and seeing what they can make it.
“I fell in love with the potential of this place the first time I came through the door,” Ted shares. “I really hope we can share that with the community, and keep those DIY dreams alive in Montreal.”
To get in touch with Studio 415 for renting the space and more, contact studio415mtl@gmail.com
