History

The Khyber was originally erected as The Church of England Institute in 1888, and was designed by architect Henry Busch in an eclectic Victorian style with strong Gothic Revival influences.  The building was commissioned by Bishop Hibbert Binney.  Other buildings designed by Busch in Halifax include the Halifax Academy and the Halifax Public Gardens Bandstand.

The Khyber, as we know it today, grew out of various progressive groups and organizations that used the then-neglected building throughout the late 60′s 70′s and 80′s. Such groups included a refugee clinic, health food store, the city’s first gay social space (the Turret Club), the Heritage Trust, Atlantic Film Co-op, Wormwood Cinema, and the Khyber Café.

Eventually a more formal administrative body evolved to handle the growing number of cultural projects.  A lease with the City of Halifax was inked in 1995 and the Khyber Art Society was established. Since then, the Khyber has been host to many artists and musicians who have gone on to gain national recognition. Such artists as Emily Vey Duke, Shary Boyle, Kelly Mark, Joel Plaskett and Buck 65 all spent formative years at the Khyber. Currently the Khyber Arts Society leases space from HRM on the second floor of the building while renting additional space on the second and third floors on an event-by-event basis.  The Khyber Board of Directors is made up of professional artists and other professionals from the community.

In 2008 the Khyber Arts Society was finally officially named the building’s anchor tenant by HRM, with Mayor Peter Kelly announcing, “The Khyber is already a much valued piece of cultural landscape …  it is assured a strong future that will greatly contribute to Barrington St. and help build the creative capitol of the municipality”.

The Khyber Arts Society continues to be the heart of the emerging artistic cultural scene.  The Khyber is the centre for emerging artists to meet, explore their career potential and share this with the larger community.  The Khyber Arts Society offers a crucial step between our fine universities and future artistic success.  The Khyber helps keep our creative youth here in our community. Every year over 20,000 (and growing annually) people attended events at the Khyber.