Gallery5, located at 200 W. Marshall St., opened its doors in April 2005 in an effort to bring a socially aware art gallery and performance space to Richmond. Gallery5 also wanted to save the historic Jackson Ward Steamer Company No. 5 building. The socially conscious minds behind Gallery5 still feel like something is missing, but they're on the fast track to changing that.  

Over the course of the summer, Gallery5 will be converting its blackbox theater into a free and open library-café environment with the idea of helping propagate open discourse and further their goal of bringing social awareness to Richmond.

"We are going to have a ton of books for people to read, comfy furniture to sit on, art to look at, free coffee and maybe even some community instruments for people to play," said Gallery5's assistant director Kevin Orlosky.

"Our ultimate goal is to have the space used by community members to hang out, educate themselves and meet new people, without the tension of a corporate atmosphere," Orlosky said. "It will be open to artist groups, activist groups or even local business organizations to conduct meetings. We really want it to feel like you're sitting down in your own living room."

For those who don't know Gallery5, this library space is a departure from the normal swing of things.

"Along with monthly art exhibits, we host many performances such as, music acts, theatre troupes, sound installation, performance art and film screenings throughout the months," Orlosky said. "We also have a gallery store supporting local artists and craft/jewelry makers."

Orlosky said that the idea behind the new library space is aimed at brightening up the first floor of the two-floor building and helping to bring in more people during the daytime hours.

So why is Gallery5 the right spot and Richmond the right city for something like this?

"We want our following to be able to get more from us than just entertainment," Orlosky said. "I think a lot of people in Richmond really want to help make the community here stronger. We have already received a surprising amount of support and feedback about the library and our marketing for it so far is minimum. The more the space becomes a part of the people in the community the more momentum it will create and more people will become involved as time progresses. I think there is a lot of potential brewing here."

The biggest part of a community run space is support from the community. So how can Richmond help Gallery5?

"Donate!" Orlosky said. "We need as many books as we can get. The bigger the library the better. We also are looking for donations of bookshelves, coffee, coffee tables, end tables, chairs, rugs, copier and paint."

Gallery5 needs the following materials:
Socio-Political
Art
Art History
Art Educational
Literature Essays
Classic Literature
Instructional / D.I.Y.
History
Richmond History
Music History
Local History
Graphic Novels
Theology
Sociology
Psychology
Nature
D.I.Y. Zines

Gallery 5 does not need:
Genre Fiction: (romance novels, mystery/horror, science fiction, war/espionage fiction)
Self Help Books

Want to help? Need more information? Call Gallery5's assistant director Kevin Orlosky at (804) 644-0005.