Press Release: Agricola St. Open Mic House Getting New Lease on Life, Seeking Community Input

For Immediate Release

September 19, 2025

Agricola St. Open Mic House Getting New Lease on Life

The Agricola Street Open Mic House is ready for its next chapter, and it’s looking for feedback from artists and community members on what it should offer. 

Since about 2008, the Open Mic House has operated as an art-space music venue for emerging artists, hosting weekly live performances. It was a community hub for artists to meet, collaborate, get inspired, and try out their material in front of a supportive audience.

With complete renovations to the two-storey building expected in 2027, and an addition of a commercial space with two levels of outdoor seating right next door, there is time and  opportunity to choose how to renovate the interior to best suit the needs of artists! 

The Proposed Redesign and Amendments to the Open Mic House

Original Open Mic House members Dave Fultz and Jacques Mindreau are involved in the new chapter of Open Mic House.  Both were part of the early days of Open Mic, when the weekly Open Mic nights began, which continued for over 10 years.  Jacques speaks about the excitement of Open Mic House starting again:  

“I’m so overjoyed about Open Mic House and what it’s becoming is something, in some kind of way, a legacy of what used to be, but also an active arts space. It overjoys my heart to know that the community wants this space to thrive and wants people who will make it thrive to be involved in it.  I’m very very very VERY happy that it wants to continue to be a place for the arts, for people to gather, for community, and for creativity.”

Jacques shares a bit about Open Mic’s history:

“I started the Open Mic events in 2008 — I was only 24 at the time!  I wanted to gather people together just for music.  I didn’t want any excuse to go to another bar. I didn’t want to have it be a space for people to chat and not listen. I wanted a listening room where people could share their ideas. Whether it was music, or any form of expression that was in some way creative or artistic. 

“I called all the contacts that I knew on a late November night (I was pretty new to Halifax at the time, I just moved in September), and a bunch of people showed up and I thought: this place has community spirit! All these musicians blew my mind away.  All these poets, writers, spoken word artists, you know? And the first one was so successful, so we decided: let’s do it again, and again! And we kept it going and going. And I moved away eventually and it was still going.  I came back and it was still going. 

“So many wonderful artists have been involved in this community, and I am SO happy that I tapped into something that we all needed. But it really is the community that made it happen.  And you know, it’s been through its ups and downs. I know it had eras that were not the best, but it had eras that were shining, and I’ve made so many lifelong friends in that space. We need that so much in our communities right now. We don’t have enough of those places.  

“And, I am so happy that the community wants to make it a permanent fixture, and ensure that [we keep these spaces open].  I really want to celebrate that, and I hope a lot of support continues to be poured towards that space, and that many people get to  enjoy a space that can thrive.” 

Open Mic is looking for input from musicians, artists and the music industry on what spaces + services artists need most.  They’re collecting input in following ways, and encourage folks to participate in both:

1. In-Person: Tues, Sept 23, 6pm @ the Italian Cultural Centre (2629 Agricola St) 

2. Online: survey 

The Open Mic House is now a registered non-profit, with a board of past artists, residents, and music industry professionals. The non-profit is looking for Board Members as well, and encourages those interested to email OpenMicHFX@gmail.com. 

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