Franz Seachel is the founder of Enabling Arts, a brand new “multidisciplinary arts space focused on wellness through the arts”, located in the Railtown neighbourhood.

Part retail shop, part venue, and aiming to be wholly accessible, from what we know so far, we love what this community hub is all about. And to find out even more about the person behind it, and what we can expect from the hybrid space, we reached out directly to Seachel to find out. Read our recent interview with the artist-slash-businesswoman-slash-activist (-slash-cat-lover) below:

First of all, I’d love to know a bit of your personal background: I read somewhere that you have a degree in Creative Writing and that your debut novel is in the works…any details you can tease us with about that project?

Yes, I do have a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Shout out to that community and program, they’ll always have a special place in my heart for giving me the footing that allowed me to step into all the roles that I occupy today. My undergrad played a big role in shaping my foundation and shaping my values of community and care. And yes, I’ve been working on a hybrid novel (consisting of a mix of poetry and prose). It follows the senior year of a Catholic high school brown femme as she reconciles what it means to be in relation to familial expectations and societal pressures. I’m hoping to find a publisher soon and bring it into the world. I’m also working on a book of poetry; I’m fascinated by mythos and rituals.

How did art and writing enter into your life, and how have their purposes for you changed or evolved over time?

I’m not sure if I can pinpoint when art and writing entered my life exactly. I was a big reader in elementary school, which is where my affinity for words and their magic began. I didn’t take my creative practice seriously till I was in my second year of university, when I realized it was a possibility to be a creative person professionally (and saw what it looked like modeled by other community members).

What does art and writing first and foremost give back to you nowadays?

These days art and writing offer a bridge to community and genuine connection. All the most important people in my life hold creative threads that we get to weave into being together; my best friends are my most cherished collaborators. Finding my art practice additionally allowed healing from the trauma of suppressing the authentic self; this is where I hope to engage people with their art practices, even if they’re not looking to create professionally, I want it to be a safe return to the self and a space where authenticity can be valued and celebrated.

Regarding Enabling Arts: What initially inspired your vision for this space, and how did it all come together? Who helped to made it happen (directly and indirectly)?

This idea came about a bit suddenly due to circumstances; I was on the hunt for stable income but also wanted the liberty to continue the work of my personal creative practice. I had left one of my part-time jobs, and though I still had part-time work at Upstart & Crow Literary Arts Studio, I was looking for something more. The team at Upstart & Crow couldn’t have been more supportive when I told them I wanted to open my own store, and they continue to support us by partnering with us on book sales. When you buy books from us, you’re supporting a range of free programming, including writing workshops, lecture series, residencies, author events and much more in collaboration with Upstart & Crow.

Enabling Arts became an amalgamation of all the work I was doing independently, it was a way to consolidate all my interests: bookselling, event planning, poetry, performing, vending & creating ceramics, curating, bringing people together, and getting back to creative play. I had a lot of support in making this a reality. Namely, my parents did a lot to remind me this was tangible, to support me on the technical end, and to physically set up the store. I even got to bring in some of my dad’s art for sale. A couple of my friends each volunteered their time to paint murals to bring the space to life, my sister and another friend offered free photography, and my dear collaborators agreed to perform pro bono to warm the space for our first event. At all points during this journey, l felt supported by the people around me.

There was a lot of excitement about the project from my community as well, which was needed and motivating, especially during the bureaucratic waiting; I knew it would be appreciated in the end. Our store manager, Dani, was also tremendously helpful in the process of getting things ready to open. I couldn’t have done this alone, and having someone to vent troubles to, help dream of the space, troubleshoot, and be an extra set of hands was invaluable.

Enabling Arts also features a highly curated retail space. How do you decide what makes a product the “right” fit for your retail area? Can you please highlight a handful of local makers and/or products that you currently stock and are stoked about?

We look for things with the “right” vibe — we consider how it will fit into our collection of items, how much it is, do we think our customers would be interested in it, and who made it. We have so many amazing Canadian makers (84% of our stock), as well as BC-based makers (67% of our stock) it’s hard to narrow down our favourites. I really am stoked about everything we carry, but maybe that’s my bias as the curator / buyer. Here are a few things I love:

RavenSong (Cambell River, BC) soaps smell delicious. They have a variety of scents, but my favourite is “Soapberry Ice Cream”. It fills my whole bathroom with a delightful scent.

Element Botanicals (Sorrento, BC) has a Stardust Shimmering Body Oil that we love. Not only does it smell amazing, but it nourishes your skin while leaving you shimmering.

Lakshmi Sky (Lekwunhen Territory) makes a Rosemary Hair Oil that is perfect for keeping your hair healthy looking and shiny.

Fatty Cat Designs (Vancouver, BC) has some of the funniest collaged cat portraits, cards, and stickers.

Mala Yaga Tiny Creations (North Vancouver, BC) makes the sweetest little garden protector mushroom friends.

Our store manager (bb bee designs) and I (Made by Franz) have things for sale at the shop as well; she makes textile crafts like book sleeves, and I make ceramics like mugs and incense holders. I’d also love to shout out our other BC based consignment small-makers (at the time of writing this, as I’m sure our stock will have expanded by publication): 100% Beeswax Candles!, Alishia Sian, Amichi Studio, Dionne Co, Found Art by Adishi, Gardenbyhay, greenbean_machine_, Jotika Healing Arts, Liberation Maasis, lovelittlenikki, Madeline Mouse, Rachel Karat, Sharin F. Ali, and Shruthi Bahar. [Editors note: shop them online here.]

Your first poetry open mic night just passed on March 19th – in fact, if I’m correct, this was Enabling Arts’ first event in your new space! Any highlights from the event that you care to share with Scout readers? What other sort of events can we look forward to in the weeks and months ahead?

It was our first public event, yes. We had a soft launch with close community members, family, and friends to see what it would be like as an event space and to bring good energy into the location the weekend before. Both events went well, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more folks into the space and hosting more arts events. We aim to foster an environment where people can engage with their creative side in a low-stakes environment, in whatever ways feel good to them. We have lots of events to look forward to and are dreaming up even more. For now, readers can look forward to our poetry open mic returning monthly, and a poetry month (April) filled with book launches and more! In May, we’re collaborating with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver to put on an event, so stay tuned for more information on that. Folks can follow along on our website, www.enablingarts.com/events, and on Instagram at @enablingarts.

What other artists and writers have provided you with the most inspiration, that you want to shout out?

It’s hard to narrow it down as I’m inspired by so many creatives. Chelene Knight has been one of my mentors in the past and has provided space and inspiration for the intersections between creative practices and self-care to bloom. That work was very important for me, especially at the start of my professional journey. She taught me how to set boundaries and to carve out intentional space for working on multiple projects simultaneously. It’s a joy to watch her manage a thriving writing career and creative business. I also adore the work of Kai Cheng Thom and the way she’s able to bring together the intersections of poetry, trauma-informed practices, somatics, creativity, community and loving despite it all.

“Every sector, including the food and beverage scene, could benefit from cross-collaboration and finding the intersections of communities. I love mixing mediums and co-creating. I love thinking of how we can juxtapose to subvert expectations. I love seeing people work together in new ways.”

Self care is a big part of Enabling Arts’ ethos. What do you do to take care of yourself these days? Any rituals – long-term and/or newly implemented – that you can share with us?

Slowing down is important; rest isn’t earned. I’m trying to resist grind culture as much as I can. I’ve started integrating intentional communal rest into my practices. I love Tarot and oracle cards both as a guide for reflection and meditations, as well as creative inspiration. We have a selection of decks in store; we also have a lot of bath products, which is another form of self-care for me. Being outside is also a big part of my rituals; I try to be with the land and with the water when I can. Play is also a big part of my self-care and creative practices.

As a Food & Beverage focussed publication, we often draw the connection between food and community. Any plans to implement a food-related aspect into Enabling Arts? Is there anything you’ve learned from your background / experience in the arts that you think the F&B scene could benefit from or incorporate to make it a more accessible scene?

Every sector, including the food and beverage scene, could benefit from cross-collaboration and finding the intersections of communities. I love mixing mediums and co-creating. I love thinking of how we can juxtapose to subvert expectations. I love seeing people work together in new ways. We’re hoping to collaborate with some local brands like Alai Coffee and Gheelicious. We also love tea at Enabling Arts and hope to find more local vendors.

What is your personal relationship with food? What is your favourite comfort food i.e. the dish that you gravitate towards when you need to feel nourished, on more than just a hunger level?

Food, like art, is a catalyst for connection. The joys of sharing a good conversation over a good meal is a truly special part of being. I like to incorporate food into creative offerings, even if it’s providing a small snack time, so folks have time to re-nourish and chat. I’m starting to deepen my relationship with food by growing my own. I recently joined Feed the People Grower’s Co-Op and that’s been a beautiful gateway into being more intentional with my food practices. I feel like my comfort foods change depending on the seasons – I love fresh fruits in the summer, sitting outside in the sun. I’m a big fan of sweet things. I love a good soup in the winter, some hardy root vegetables.

Finally, I can’t ignore the feline aspect to Enabling Arts…obviously the cohort of shop cats is also a part of your identity (they even feature on your bookmarks!) I’m a “cat person” myself, so I get it and fully appreciate it. Can you briefly give us a rundown of how they came into your life and the role they play in the whole equation? (Also, should we include a “disclaimer” that cats may be in attendance at the space at any given time?)

Unfortunately, our feline friends strictly work from home, so they won’t be in the store at any point. Although, we’d welcome a visit from an adventure cat in a backpack any day (your leashed dogs are also welcome to visit us). Honestly, I never considered myself a cat person until recently; I grew up with a dog and never really understood cats. When I moved in with my partner, he was adamant that we were getting a cat, so we did. And my heart opened to these silly magical creatures… and then we got another cat… and last October we got another. We have three black cats now. They take up a lot of my mind and heart space, and I’m sure other cat-people understand the feeling. Whenever I run into makers who dabble in cat creations, I’m instantly drawn to the cat items. It’s hard to find things for cat people unless you’re looking. I wanted to make it a bit more accessible for all the cat-loving folks I knew. Our store manager and I also bonded over our love of cats — it was one of the first points of connection in our friendship, as she has two of her own. Cats bring us a lot of joy, and we want to spread that feeling.

Enabling Arts

Neighbourhood: Railtown Japantown

343 Railway St.

778-980-1448

WEBSITE