Main Street's Little Mountain Gallery is optimistic its doors will remain open just weeks after a city inspector warned it was hosting events contrary to its business licence.

The gallery, at 195 East 26th, opened more than four years ago and has regularly leased the space to artists and musicians for more than two years.

Artists staged "small, affordable, alcohol-free, all-ages" shows that ended by 10 p.m., according to Little Mountain. Proceeds from those events helped pay the gallery's rent. It doesn't have paid staff and is run by volunteers.

But someone complained about the shows, which sparked a visit from a city inspector who told the gallery it would have to stop the shows unless it could get the appropriate approvals since it's only licenced as a retail art gallery. Volunteers worried that signaled the end of gallery and an important space for artists to perform.

They met with Vision Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal and staff in the city's cultural planning department. "We are currently working with the city to make Little Mountain a legitimate space," explained artist Ehren Salazar who helps run the gallery. "This includes applying for a cultural infrastructure grant. If awarded the grant, we will use the funds allocated to renovate and improve the space."

Salazar said Little Mountain received more than 200 letters of support from musicians, artists, local businesses, theatre companies, record labels and neighbourhood residents. The gallery now hosts most of its concerts at Nyala, a neighbouring restaurant. "They have agreed to help us out until we can move all of our shows back to Little Mountain," Salazar said. "We are trying to limit music shows at the gallery space to weekends, with occasional shows consisting of quieter acts still occurring at the space once in a while. We will still be hosting visual art exhibits and theatrical companies."

Salazar said it's important to him that the gallery is respectful to neighbourhood concerns. He is encouraged by the city's response to the situation and believes the outcome will be good for the gallery.

"We're feeling more positive about the situation than we were two or three weeks ago, but the space is still in limbo until we sort out some of our current issues with the city," Salazar said. "City hall expects us to move forward on the initiatives we have discussed with them. Completing our grant proposal is our number one priority. Little Mountain Gallery is committed to becoming a recognized legitimate space for all-ages music and arts events in Vancouver."

The Courier could not reach a spokesperson from the city's cultural planning department by press deadline. But the department is in the midst of a review of regulations concerning live performance venues. The intent is to update and modernize regulations to help venues operate more easily within city guidelines.

Little Mountain Gallery is featuring Alex Cieslik's new exhibit "Outside Access, which opens at the gallery Aug. 12. It's also having an all-ages benefit concert at the Rickshaw Theatre between 7 p.m. and midnight, Aug. 13. Proceeds go towards helping the gallery remain open.

noconnor@vancourier.com