Galactic Panther Art Gallery has hosted live music and paid events since opening in 2021, and now its owners are asking the city for approval to host them.
Galactic Panther’s 1,900-square-foot art gallery has hosted comedy, improv, sound baths, yoga, open mic nights and live music for more than a year, and their proposal to continue with the events goes to the Planning Commission on October 3 and City Council on October 14.
“We plan to host paid events at the art gallery,” owners Eli Pollard and Erik Muendel asked in the application. “These events include art workshops, comedy, live music, yoga, sound baths and receptions.”
The owners said in their special use permit application that they expect the events to attract 20-to-30 people, although photos of events shared on the gallery’s Facebook page show events with more than 30 people in attendance.
“I started the gallery during Covid and (the city was) pretty relaxed about it, and it was this process of maturing and knowing the city,” Muendel said. “I’ve never been in retail and am new to these experiences, and we’re getting all our paperwork in place.”
Muendel continued, “We’re going to upgrade with a booking agent to bring in more touring musical artists. It’s a maturation of our programming.”
Galactic Panther (currently open Thursday to Sunday), already hosts the following events every week:
- Comedy every Wednesday & Friday
- Live Music by Jah Messenger Sound every Thursday
- Live Music 1st Saturdays
- Improv 2nd Saturdays
- Glow night Paint & Sip 3rd Saturdays
- Sound Bath & Yoga every other Sunday
- Open Mic every Sunday
Muendel is also the owner of ESP Tea and Coffee at 1012 King Street.
According to the city staff report:
- The applicant is proposing using the space for comedy and live music events which constitute the live entertainment use. They are also proposing art workshops, yoga and other classes that are the commercial private school use. All of these activities would take place in the existing gallery, which has an area to the rear of the space, which is currently equipped with a microphone and an amplifier
- Noise from live entertainment and activities, such as music, performances, and trivia, shall end no later than 11 p.m.
- Noise levels are anticipated to reach 80 decibels