Roy Street Collective had it's first official meeting in January of 2003, marking not the birth
of the group, but an effort to manage its growing potential. The Roy Street building, which
gives the collective its home, has been housing artists since Louise Markus and Grant Genova
purchased it in 1999 as a studio, residence and space for Fresh Fruit & Architecture,
the architecture firm closely connected to the collective. As they renovated, transforming
the building from fish warehouse to functioning creative environment, interest from local
artists, and from the neighborhood, steadily increased. In response to encouraging inquiries
and support, the building became host to its first cultural events in 2001. That year saw
the first trade art shows, at which more than thirty-five artists met to trade their work.
