City of Nelson Approves Lease for KSA Building, Ushering in New Era for Arts and Culture
April 29, 2026 · Eden DuPont
A major milestone has been reached in the future of arts and culture in Nelson. The City of Nelson has officially approved a lease agreement for the Kootenay School of the Arts (KSA) building, paving the way for a renewed vision of the historic space as a vibrant, community-driven arts centre.
This announcement follows months of dedicated work by a collective of local arts and culture workers, who mobilized in response to Selkirk College’s decision last October to discontinue support for KSA’s craft programs. Their shared goal: to preserve KSA’s legacy while transforming the City-owned building into a sustainable, inclusive centre for creativity and learning.
With oversight from the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council and the Nelson & District Arts Council, the collective engaged consultants Nordicity and MBAC to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study. Presented to City Council in February 2026, the study outlined a path forward, including a request for a rent-free lease period to support the transition. That vision has now been realized with the City’s approval.
The building’s leaseholder will be the Nelson Community Land Trust (NCLT), working in collaboration with key partners and anchor tenants. Among them is the newly formed Kootenay School of the Arts Society (KSAS), a non-profit organization established to carry forward KSA’s educational programming.
KSAS has launched its new website at ksarts.ca and is already accepting inquiries for its ceramics program for the 2026–2027 academic year, signaling strong momentum as it prepares to relaunch programming and will continue to work towards accreditation. The metal arts department will now be operated by Nearside Arts Society (formerly Blackbird Arts), and will be rolling out an exciting new selection of courses, workshops and metal focused programming.
“This is an exciting and hopeful moment. With the City’s support, we can confidently move forward with building out programming, securing partnerships, and ensuring long-term sustainability for both the building and KSA’s educational legacy.”
— Kallee Lins, Executive Director of West Kootenay Regional Arts Council
As part of the transition, it’s important to distinguish between the building itself and the educational programming it will house. While closely aligned, these will operate as complementary but distinct entities. During this next phase, the building is being referred to as 606 Arts Space, with a formal branding process to follow.
The collective is relieved that it can now shift the focus on finalizing tenancy, expanding programming, and launching fundraising efforts. The collective encourages community members, donors, and partners to stay engaged and be part of this next chapter.
Media Contact: Matt Wynne, Director, Nelson Community Land Trust (250) 777-8589