People of the OCQ: Jenny

“Arts and culture can enrich a community by providing a sense of belonging, pride, and identity,” says Jenny Vincent, Art Director of St. Andrew’s Church. “It also helps communities develop a new sense of self, diversify their economy, and improve quality of life.”

Jenny and a group of like-minded volunteers have newly established a not-for-profit organization, the Old City Arts Hub Society, to create more opportunities for artists to connect to their community. An arts hub is a space that offers artists and cultural organizations an opportunity to collaborate, create and perform to audiences. 

Jenny has been the musical director for St. Andrews church for the last three years. She saw the church as a great stage to host more artists. 

“Nanaimo is in need of a mid sized concert venue,” explains Jenny. “Nanaimo also needs space for theatres, for art exhibits, for art studios, storytelling, poetry readings, classes and workshops. We hope this will become the place to do just that.”

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Located in the historic Old City Quarter, St. Andrew’s Church’s excellent acoustics and intimate atmosphere of three-hundred and fifty seats makes it the perfect space for the arts hub. 

“The Old City Quarter has an artsy feel to it. It’s a vibrant area with unique stores and restaurants,” explains Jenny. 

The Old City Arts Hub is in the start-up stage of their non-profit organization. A formal agreement has been made with the church to partner together to bring live performance into the space. 

The society hosted their first benefit concert in January 2025, where musicians and performers donated their time, and the event was a huge success – further demonstrating the demand for these opportunities. 

The society hopes to enhance the space by adding new lighting, a sound system, and an expansion of the performance stage to start. They hope to start working on these improvements in the summertime and begin offering events by the fall. 

The five-year dream is to host a myriad of artistic events, possibly extending the church to offer artist studios, music rooms and creative spaces. 

“Performance arts are crucial to a community as they foster a sense of connection, cultural identity, and shared experience by bringing people together through live performances, creative art workshops and exhibits,” explains Jenny. “Artists also get a platform to express their creativity, showcase their talents, and engage with their audience on a personal level, often sparking dialogue and social awareness within the community.” 

People can support the organization by getting involved through their website, oldcityartshub.ca.