Why Marketspot’s Closure Is a Big Loss for Emerging Artists
By now, many of you in the local Calgary arts community have heard about the unfortunate forced closing of Marketspot. Their Downtown Core shopping mall location is the latest casualty of what feels like a growing trend in this type of retail.
I wanted to take a moment to share what my time at Marketspot has meant to me as an artist, and why spaces like this are so important for our community.
What Happened to Marketspot in Calgary
Marketspot recently announced that its shop in the Downtown Core will be closing on April 13. The news came unexpectedly, with very little time to process before they had to begin clearing out the space.
According to their statement, this is not the first time they have been asked to leave a mall location, and they will not be relocated to another space. For nearly a decade, Marketspot has provided a physical storefront that connected local artists and makers with customers year-round. Losing that kind of home base is not just difficult for the business but for the entire creative community that surrounds it.
An exterior an interior shot of Marketspot’s retail location in Calgary’s The Core Shopping Mall.
What Made Marketspot Different
I joined Marketspot first as an online vendor and then as an in-store vendor at the Core in 2024. What immediately stood out to me was how curated the store felt, while still being approachable.
The space had a very intentional feel to it. It was eclectic, but cohesive, and that balance made it welcoming for customers while still highlighting the individuality of each artist.
I often thought the store felt like an evolving art piece. Artists were not given rigid, permanent spots. Instead, the work was interspersed throughout the store, creating a more immersive experience. As a customer, you could always discover something new as you moved through the space.
If something was not working in one area, it would be thoughtfully moved. Pieces were rotated to different spots or even featured in the front window. There were no extra charges or hidden fees tied to this. It was simply the care of a retailer who genuinely wanted their vendors to succeed.
A huge reason for this genius approach to retail space display goes to Janice Mather, the shop manager and stager for Marketspot, who is also an artist vendor in the store. From day one, Janis felt like a supportive and collaborative partner for my experience as a vendor in the store. Her feedback and guidance were instrumental in my growing success there.
A Commission-Based Model That Supported Artists
It took me a few months to determine which pieces of my work would resonate in the store. The Marketspot team was collaborative and open with feedback, which helped me find my niche and bring in work that customers were actually looking for.
Their commission-based model made a huge difference. As a newer vendor, I was not risking large amounts of money upfront if sales were slow. That kind of structure makes a space like this accessible to emerging artists who might not otherwise be able to afford retail exposure.
In some other artist/maker concept stores, they offer a dedicated space for a high monthly fee while letting the artist keep 100% of their sales. This fee ranges between $300-$600 CAD. In some of my typical months at Marketspot, this would have meant barely breaking even. For vendors who are just starting out or are retired and looking to supplement their income, this would be unsustainable or even devastating financially in slower months. Having spaces like Marketspot that offer a low monthly buy-in fee with a 60-40 profit split in favour of the artist is the difference between a dream growing or dying.
What stood out most was that I always felt like they cared about my success. I was happy to pay commission when something sold because it felt earned. Whether it was helping refine what I brought into the store or recommending my work to customers, the team was actively involved in making sure their artists did well.
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Landscape and bird original paintings were very popular for me in the store along with mini prints.
What Marketspot Made Possible for Me
It is often your local community that becomes your biggest supporter first. Being a vendor at Marketspot gave me a new way to connect with people who would love my work. It created opportunities that would not have existed otherwise.
Art is something people want to experience in person, especially when it is a meaningful purchase. Having a consistent retail space allows artists to be seen year-round, not just at occasional markets.
During my short time with Marketspot, I have sold around 30 original paintings and hundreds of prints. Last year alone, my sales doubled compared to the previous year. I went into this year expecting even more growth.
Spaces like this are how the idea of becoming an artist who regularly sells their work starts to feel possible. Art not only makes for a unique gift, but for many, it holds deep meaning and can bring so much joy. Without Marketspot, there are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of people who would not be able to experience that through my work and other artists featured in their store.
Why This Loss Matters for Calgary Artists
The closing of Marketspot is about more than just one store. It reflects a larger issue around the loss of accessible retail space for local artists.
When spaces like this disappear, it becomes harder for emerging artists to find a starting point. The barrier to entry is higher, and opportunities to grow become more limited.
We need artist-run stores that know their vendors by name and care about whether those artists succeed. When one artist is successful in these spaces, it creates momentum and possibilities for others.
Right now, there is one retail chain in particular that is making its way through most malls in Canada that does not support the accessible store model that Marketspot does. They are likely the vendor coming into the Core Shopping Mall that has had a hand in why Marketspot is being pushed out.
I want to be clear that I believe the mall management is just as much to blame, if not more, as the mall is ultimately the one that decides on this. Marketspot has a specialty lease, which means they were month-to-month, and the mall is only required to give them a month’s notice to vacate.
More permanent leases for a store like Marketspot, according to their comments on their social posts, were not financially possible, and may have likely given them more protection in this case.
Even if these decisions are made from a business perspective, the impact on the local community cannot be ignored. Marketspot was a long-standing tenant and a staple for many. Choosing corporate interests over spaces that support local artists and business owners says a lot about what is being valued.
What Comes Next
Even with the closure of their Downtown Core location, Marketspot is continuing forward. They will be hosting weekly markets on Stephen Avenue starting in May and are planning a new night market series. Their online platform will also continue to feature local makers and artists.
Visit my artist feature page on marketspot.ca
While the physical storefront is closing, the community they have built is still very much alive.
A couple of my wildlife paintings featured at Marketspot.
I hope Marketspot will find a new, more permanent location in the future. If they do, I will absolutely be signing up again, as I am incredibly grateful for my time there. It taught me a lot about the audience for my work, the retail art business, and the importance of creative community.
Spaces like this do more than sell products. They support people who are trying to build something meaningful.
Support Local Artists Before April 13
If you have the chance to visit Marketspot before it closes on April 13, I would highly recommend it. Let’s send them out on a high note.
If you choose to support my work, I truly appreciate it. But more importantly, supporting any of the artists or makers in the store makes a difference.
These spaces only work when the community shows up for them.