It’s always sad when businesses are forced to shut down due to tough economic times but when it happens to be a vibrant community art space, it’s that much more depressing. Alas, this is the outcome for Project 165—the artist-run, multi-use project site in Kensington Market—who will be closing its doors for good as of March 1, 2011 after three-and-a-half years in business. Sad, yes, but the folks at Project 165 are choosing to go out in celebration and want you to join them for a two-day sendoff party this weekend.

On Saturday, the space will host a bangin’ hip-hop party called Tussle & Flow from 10 pm onwards, featuring performances by Test Their Logik, Garbageface, Joe Law and DJ Sawtay. The event will benefit Maximum Tolerated Dose, an animal rights film that features former lab workers discussing their work. On Sunday, Last Call promises to be “a future-faith party, like an Irish wake but without a corpse and the Irish brogue” and will go from 5 pm to 1 am with food and performances a-plenty. Both events will take place at 165 Augusta Ave.

The space also has contents to get rid of so those in need of any tools, art supplies, folding chairs, tables, dishes, T-shirts and more can stop by on Saturday from 12-4 pm and make a donation.

Farewell Project 165, we’ll miss you!

~ Caitlyn Holroyd
~ Photo by Karol Cuddles