Dimly lit basements have long been a starting point for many great bands — Nirvana, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pearl Jam to name a few. These intimate spaces foster a sense of community collaboration, support for local artistry and limitless creativity. So, it’s fitting that Raleigh’s up-and-coming music and art co-op, Imurj, is located in the basement space under Whiskey Kitchen.

The South McDowell Street venue opened last May, and since then they’ve created a buzz in the city as an eclectic music venue and bar — with shows varying profoundly in genre and ambiance, according to Henry Boyd, Imurj’s talent booking agent.

“There’s a pretty hefty melting pot of stuff down here,” Boyd said. “On any given night you could see an indie show, a heavy metal show, a hip hop show, a jazz show — you name it and it’s been down here. There are a lot of places that have a set kind of music they have in a space and I’ve never really vibed with that. […] I think for a long time there has been an under-representation of groups, and I work really hard to mitigate that and bring in as many kinds of music and people as possible.”

Imurj, a unique play on words combining “emergence” of artists and “immersion” into art, says a lot about the venue’s dedication to encourage all forms of art to be created in their space. The 6,000-square-foot basement is open to any and all things creative: a store to buy local artisan work, a lounge with instruments free for use, seating and table space for manifesting creative projects, gallery walls for inspiration, a stage for performing and even a studio for sound and video engineering.

This is a fresh concept to Raleigh’s music and art scene, one which tends to separate music and art into categories of their own, according to Imurj managing partner and marketing operations director Heather Burns. She said she believes that instead of separating music and art, the two should merge together to create a full and vivid experience for the artists and the audiences.

“Right now, in most aspects of art galleries, they are completely divided from music,” Burns said. “And, because music and art are so naturally in sync with one another, we just want this collaborative feel. Really, every art form mimics another art form, and I’ve noticed that most musicians are other artists as well. So, it is a natural feel to combine all of them together in a comfortable environment.”

Imurj offers a membership to artists looking for a space to expand their creative endeavors, and right now that membership is free of charge. Such a status opens up more opportunities, and for a better price, to use the recording studio, create video productions, perform and showcase one’s work. The membership is for local artists looking for a community and resources to take their art to the next level. Many people are already taking advantage of the offer and the studio is booked with about three people per week.

For beginning artists or art enthusiasts, the membership is not necessary in order to enjoy and utilize the space for collaboration on projects, experimenting with instruments, enjoying live music or even attending their many events — like Pinecone Bluegrass Jam on some Mondays, live figure drawing on Tuesdays and open mic on Wednesdays. 

This welcoming attitude fosters creativity through experimentation and exploration, for artists and non-artists, and is a very genuine value that Imurj has exhibited since founders Karl Thor and Burns had the idea for such an art co-op in Raleigh.

“We’re collaborative,” Burns said. “It’s one of our core missions to bring as many people down here as we can and give people a place where they feel safe and are encouraged to express their art as long as it doesn’t make anyone else feel unsafe […] to create a safe space where everybody feel comfortable to experience the art that they love.”

Imurj will be celebrating their first anniversary in May, and hope that even more artists and art lovers join the Imurj community, whether for a drink, a concert, to meet friends, to appreciate visual art or to record an album in the years to come.  

Imurj is open Sunday through Monday from 5 -11 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Check out their website for a full calendar of concerts, workshops and other events.