Sudbury Artisans Collective wins retail space downtown

WATCH: The Sudbury Artisans Collective has won a year of free rent at a vacant building downtown to test business idea.

The winner of an annual contest created to encourage entrepreneurship and revitalize downtown Sudbury has been announced.

"Win This Space Contest," was created by the Sudbury business improvement area (BIA) in partnership with the Regional Business Centre and Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.

The prize this year is valued at $45,000 and includes one year’s rent for a vacant retail space located downtown and various business support services provided by local businesses.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Sudbury Artisans Collective to downtown Sudbury,” said Erin Danilyw, co-chair of Downtown Sudbury.

“This is a great example of how the ‘Win This Space Contest’ is helping to bring new and exciting businesses to our downtown core.”

The Sudbury Artisans Collective group is made up of local artists and makers who have come together to create a space for anyone seeking a locally made item or one-of-a kind gift.

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“Our vision for this space is going to be multifaceted … Our artisans are going to be members, who are going to carry their local art here so people can come in and shop for locally made items,“ the group’s co-founder Jessica Lamirande said.

The group’s artisans will also be teaching workshops.

“We’re also really hoping to have, like specific art tools available that aren’t really available in Sudbury right now,” Lamirande said.

Artisan memberships will cost between $30 to $200 a month depending on the display needed and 90 per cent of what they make will go directly in their pockets.

The other 10 per cent will be put into a lump sump that will be distributed to all at the end of each month.

“We are so excited to have won this contest,” said Sudbury Artisans Collective co-founder Kelly Hanninen.

“We are very excited to be part of downtown’s revitalization and give artisans from across Greater Sudbury a venue where they can showcase their work. We can’t wait to share our passion for art with the community and be part of the downtown’s growth.”

The group hopes to secure the space at 43 Elm unit 110 and will be opening sometime early this year.

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Other prizes in the contest include a small business print package, grand opening event planning, business banking package, radio advertising package, one-year chamber of commerce membership, internet and phone service for a year, a $250 office supply gift certificate and more.