Update: ArtsBuild is no longer accepting energy grant applications. The Energy Conservation Grant was offered on a first come, first serve basis and we have reached our limit in application submissions. Thank you to all who applied – applications will be reviewed in the order they were received until all spots have been granted.

ArtsBuild Ontario is pleased to provide a limited number of one-time grants of $2,500 towards the cost of a new renovation or project that will result in lowering of your organization’s monthly energy bill. This grant is part of ArtsBuild Ontario’s Energy Conservation Program, which endeavors to provide energy conservation training and resources to arts organizations that support efforts to reduce yearly energy consumption.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Nonprofit arts organizations in Ontario responsible for the maintenance of their facilities and who pay for their own utilities.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Eligible projects must be in a nonprofit arts facility in Ontario. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:

• Installation of energy efficient lighting systems
• Installation of low flow toilets
• Replacing windows and/or roofs

The projects should:

• Reduce your monthly energy expenses
• Contribute to the sustainability of your facility

Priority is given to projects that:

• Demonstrate the estimated energy savings (through a letter from the supplier or engineer that includes the estimated savings)
• Will be completed by September 2016 (approximately)
• Will commit to participating in a case study following the completion of their project AND provide data that supports the reduction in energy consumption.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the Application Form and email or call Lindsay Golds, Executive Director, ArtsBuild Ontario at 519.880.3670 ext 102 or lindsay@artsbuildontario.ca.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• One pager – Energy Conservation Grant
• Application Form

This is a one-time funding opportunity. This is first come, first serve, provided your organization can commit to the requirements and eligibility listed in the guidelines. Please submit your application ASAP!

Bricks&Mortar
ArtsBuild Ontario is dedicated to capturing the needs and plans of our arts facilities across the province and using this information to improve our facilities.

We have spent the past year collecting important facility related data and housing it in our database Bricks&Mortar. This system allows for the constant updating of your information so that it remains current.

As of June 2015, we have collected information from 302 organizations province-wide which includes the needs and plans of 640 facilities across all disciplines.

Culture Strategy
As all of you know the sector has been asked to participate in the Culture Talks that are occurring, so that the Province of Ontario can develop their first Culture Strategy in 2016.

Last week ArtsBuild meet with Assistant Deputy Minister Kevin Finnerty and Director, Culture and Strategic Policy Branch, Dawn Landry, to;

1. Present the findings in Bricks&Mortar, that supports and quantifies the need for investment in arts infrastructure from the province
2. Remind MTCS that ArtsBuild is busy collecting facilities data that can/should be used in important processes like Culture Talks to inform funders
3. Encourage future discussions moving forward on how this valuable data can be used collaboratively by the sector, to everyone’s benefit.

This past Monday, SpaceFinder Toronto had a whirlwind experience meeting creative spaces and artists in and around the city at this year’s Creative Spaces Partnership Exchange. The whole day delivered what it promised: Discovering, Exchanging and Building.

Discovering

SpaceFinder discovered a multitude of artists in the city looking for new spaces to rent. We had the opportunity to tell them about SpaceFinder Toronto, show them how to use the site and demonstrate how users can select over 150 search criteria to find exactly what they were looking for…from spring floors to affordable pricing.

We had an increase of 51% in new users visiting SpaceFinder Toronto on #CSPX15!

Exchanging

We met organizations with independent studios, theatres and galleries as well as organizations that housed many creative spaces that could ALL benefit listing their rentals on SpaceFinder Toronto. Through these exchanges, we were able to both share how SpaceFinder Toronto can provide additional revenue potential through rentals and relay how this valuable tool helps venues reach new audiences.

SpaceFinder Toronto had 3 venues list their spaces and 2 venues adopt online booking features at #CSPX15!

Building

At the exhibitor workshop, ArtsBuild Board member Karen Stintz was able to share how the collaboration between TAPA, ArtsBuild Ontario, WorkInCulture and Fractured Atlas was built to bring SpaceFinder to Toronto. We were thrilled to share our experience in bringing cross sector partners together to implement this valuable tool and work together to ensure it is actively and positively impacting the city’s creative sector.

SpaceFinder currently has 427 spaces listed and has accumulated $25,000+ in rental referrals…and that’s not including phone and email inquiries!

The day was a tremendous success and ArtsBuild would like to thank Melissa Routley, Program Manager with Artscape, for all her hard work in making the day an extremely valuable experience for the 70+ exhibitors and 700+ attendees.

SPACEFINDER TORONTO WORKSHOP

We invite all SpaceFinder Toronto venues to join us for a Booking Features Workshop next week on Nov. 10! All space bookings are different and range from simple to very complex so join ArtsBuild Ontario to learn how these three features – ONLINE CALENDAR – BOOKING REQUEST FORMS – BOOKING ENGINE – can complement your space booking processes and get your space noticed.

When: November 10 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: TAPA Office | 401 Richmond St W, Suite 350, Toronto, M5V 3A8
Cost: FREE!

REGISTER by emailing Alexis at alexisdsp@tapa.ca

Have you been thinking about your arts facility lately? Exploring Resource Library is a great way to get the wheels turning. Resource Library is a living library, which means we’re always adding new articles, case studies and guides about arts facilities for your arts organization to access in one location. Whether you’re planning an entirely new build or making a small upgrade, Resource Library is a free and reliable place to start.

Recently added resources include:

Fit for the Future Guide: Investing in Environmentally Sustainable Buildings
Resource: Julie’s Bicycle

This is an incredibly valuable guide for directors and managers of arts organizations developing capital projects. The Fit for the Future Guide will help you integrate environmental sustainability into your capital project plans. It focuses mainly on larger capital projects and the redevelopment of existing buildings and infrastructure, but it’s also relevant to smaller capital projects and new builds.

Download the guide here: http://bit.ly/1D8GFmQ

5 Pros and Cons of Operating City-Owned Theatres
Resource: The Clyde Fitch Report

A great discussion about questions often asked when tackling building projects in city-owned arts facilities — and in this case, theatres are in the spotlight. This article covers five different approaches (and their respective perks and challenges) when it comes to building operations. Take a look and see what’s working for independent nonprofits, government run facilities, user-run facilities, school and college run facilities and fee for service facility managers.

Read the article here: http://bit.ly/1f3ofZD

Why don’t you have a Capital Reserve Fund?
Resource: Managing the Built Environment

Looking to learn more about reserve funds for your building? This article is a great place to start. With the constant need for arts organizations to secure financing, facility repairs often fall through the cracks. Planning ahead for the future needs of your facility over a long period of time can prevent financial strain when surprise building repairs come up.  This article will definitely get you thinking about the benefits of creating a capital reserve fund.

Read the article here: http://bit.ly/1GP4tvK

Find more helpful articles and guides like these on Resource Library. It’s free and accessible anytime.

ArtsBuild is very excited to be project partners with CoBalt Connects and Fractured Atlas in bringing SpaceFinder to Hamilton, Ontario. Following the success of SpaceFinder Toronto, Hamilton is the second city in Canada to offer this proven tool to its creative community. We thought we would share local leader CoBalt Connect’s latest blog post on what inspired them to invest in SpaceFinder for Hamilton.

If you are interested in bringing SpaceFinder to your city or region, feel free to contact our Director of Programs, Lindsay MacDonald at lindsay@artsbuildontario.ca. 

Culture + Space

Cobalt Connects was originally founded as the Imperial Cotton Centre for the Arts back in 2004, and the work that informed our inception was started well before that as a project of the Hamilton Arts Council.  After dozens of interviews with artists we created an artist-specific shopping list of space needs at the time.

How high do you like your ceilings? Do you use 3 phase-powered kilns?  What makes a passable sprung floor? Do you require ventilation? Are you noisy? What neighbourhoods do you care for? What can you afford?

Out of this research we created an organization to address a physical space gap for the arts community – which led to focusing our attention on one address (270 Sherman) for the better part of 7 years.  Here, we learned a lot about making space, activating it, and the amazing people (artist and not) who would engage in this environment.

Our learning has taken us in some pretty exciting directions over the years.  We continued to develop spaces here in Hamilton (4 buildings and counting), but also act as advisors to community builders in other cities and towns throughout Ontario.

After spending 5 years getting the Studios at Hotel Hamilton on its feet we decided it was a time for change.  Cobalt would no longer be an organization interested in a single space.  We would now focus on what we call a continuum of space in Hamilton for creative people.

This means we need 300 square foot studios on James, and 4000 square foot shops on Sherman, theatres in the North, retail on Locke and Ottawa, church basements across the city, and stadiums… we won’t go there.  For our sector to thrive we need cheap and dirty, swank and polished, free and weird, secular and sacred, and all points inbetween.  Artists and creative people thrive uniquely – so we need a continuum of space that allows you to choose your moment and the space that matches it.

This is why we’ve brought SpaceFinder to Hamilton.  In partnership with the City of Hamilton,ArtsBuild Ontario, and a super cool organization called Fractured Atlas from the US – it’s finally real.  A project we’ve been watching since its beginnings in Philadelphia has now crossed the border and Hamilton is the second city to hop on with Cobalt at the helm.

SpaceFinder is building right now.  It’s a free (and always will be free) online directory where space that is open to creative use can be listed, searched, and even rented on the spot.  Presently we have about 40 published spaces that range from dance studios to store fronts, churches to historic sites.  Another 20 are being worked on in the background.  Our goal is 100 by September, 200 by December.

If you have space this is an amazing free tool to help you increase revenue, engagement, and creative output.  If you’re hunting for a next festival venue, need a place to paint that next mural commission, or have a Fringe play to rehearse – this site is for you.  It’s for all of you.

Culture + Space = Cobalt
Cobalt = SpaceFinder Hamilton

SpaceFinder Hamilton is a project of: