Fans of craft beer, live music and art now have a new gathering spot with the opening of Collective Arts Cambridge in the Gaslight District. Collective Arts is taking over the former Foundry Brewing Co. space in the project developed by Cambridge-based HIP Developments.
Collective Arts has already started brewing three core beers on-site. Hamilton hospitality group Equal Parts will run the taphouse, slated to open later this year.
Collective Arts celebrated its opening on June 29, 2025, with Off the Canvas, an event featuring music, a maker’s market, and brewery tours. Toni Shelton, vice president of brand and strategy at Collective Arts, said opening the Cambridge location was an easy decision for the Hamilton-based brewer.
“The Gaslight District embodies everything that Collective Arts already stands for. We’ve always been more than just a product on the shelf. We created our brand platform with the idea of creating spaces where all kinds of creatives can come together,” Shelton said.
On the operations side, the Gaslight District turned to a familiar partner, Equal Parts. The hospitality management company also operates The French in the Gaslight District and LaLa Social House in uptown Waterloo.
Jason Cassis, Equal Parts’ co-founder and CEO, said Collective Arts was a natural choice to operate the brewery in the district.
“Collective Arts is known for its commitment to art and music, and the Gaslight District is set up well for both of those cultural touch points because of the unique programming they’ll bring to the square,” Cassis said.
He added that the brewery is joining a growing list of breweries and distillers in the area.
“The City of Cambridge is getting some interesting beverage businesses, whether that be Willibald in Ayr or Farm League Brewing. It’s becoming a destination for beverage tourism,” he said.
Beyond beer and music, the venue will include artist studios. Collective Arts partners with artists to feature their work on cans and other packaging.
Waterloo-based artists Jeff Dillon and Taylor Armstrong have had their art featured in past collections, and Kitchener artist JJ Wilde was a featured artist on its Audio/Visual Lager in 2021.
Shelton said the brewery is always looking for ways to bring different artistic experiences to its communities. The brewery has invited artists from around the world to visit and showcase their work while also helping local artists reach a large audience.
“All the artists who are on our walls are internationally renowned artists who probably would never have come to Hamilton if we hadn’t invited them. At the same time, there’s a community art gallery with 20 Canadian artists. We’re able to embrace local and also bring global into local,” she said.
Scott Higgins, the president of HIP Developments, said the addition of Collective Arts to the Gaslight District continues to support the company’s goal of creating a space where everyone in the community can enjoy themselves.
“If you really want to be an inclusive community, you should measure yourself by how much fun you can have for free,” Higgins said.
He added that bringing Collective Arts to the district will add new entertainment opportunities for residents of Cambridge and Waterloo Region.
“This is going to increase the energy in the taproom and on the patio. Collective Arts joining us will help us make this place one of the best entertainment districts in the province,” he said.
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