Toronto, ON – November 22, 2024 – ArtsBuild Ontario is thrilled to announce the launch of our innovative project, Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) for Arts Spaces. This initiative, guided by 21 partners across Toronto, aims to develop vital resources centred on social purpose real estate for arts and heritage organizations in Toronto and across Ontario.

In recent years, many cultural organizations have faced displacement from their neighbourhoods due to rising property costs and rental rates. As the arts sector grapples with these challenges, the SPRE for Arts Spaces project is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring the future viability of cultural spaces. By focusing on the availability, accessibility, and affordability of real estate for nonprofits, the project will facilitate community development, enhance the social fabric of communities, and support economic revitalization.

SPRE for Arts Spaces is a three-year project that emphasizes building the capacity of cultural organizations to respond to the pressing issue of space precarity. Through industry expertise, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving, the project will create a knowledge base that includes online training modules, case studies, and discussions reflecting the real-time space needs of arts organizations.

Led by ArtsBuild Ontario, SPRE for Arts Spaces is guided by a Leadership Committee that represents diverse perspectives and artistic disciplines:

• City of Toronto, Economic Development & Culture
• Toronto Arts Council
• Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Creative School
• OCAD U’s Cultural Policy Hub
• Infrastructure Institute through the University of Toronto’s School of Cities

Activities planned for the SPRE initiative include:

• Training Modules: Virtual sessions featuring industry experts to provide a foundational understanding of social purpose real estate. Topics include SPRE 101: Understanding Social Purpose Real Estate for Arts Spaces, Alternative Models, Indigenous Community Relationships and the Land, and Real Estate Development & Financing Models.
• Case Studies: In-depth analyses of past and current SPRE projects involving organizations in Ontario and across Canada, such as Tapestry Opera and Nightwood Theatre and St. Jax Centre in Montreal. 
• Panel Discussions: Featuring cultural organizations engaged in SPRE initiatives, focusing on Toronto while appealing to a broader Ontario and Canada-wide audience.
• SPRE Lab with The Creative School at TMU: An in-person program designed as an incubator for Toronto-based arts and heritage organizations, facilitating collective problem-solving for cultural space challenges.

Join us for an online project launch and first training module, SPRE 101: Understanding Social Purpose Real Estate for Arts Spaces with the Infrastructure Institute and  Kendra Fry of Creative Collisions on Wednesday, December 11  from 12 PM-1:30 PM EST. The module will provide foundational knowledge on key SPRE concepts, including visioning, planning approvals, financial modelling, and site acquisition. We will also share more about the SPRE for Arts Spaces initiative and its potential impact on the arts landscape in Ontario. 

For more information about the SPRE project and ArtsBuild Ontario’s ongoing initiatives, please visit https://www.artsbuildontario.ca/spre.

Quotes

“The City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division is proud to be a partner on Social Purpose Real Estate for Arts Spaces in Toronto. Social purpose real estate is an innovative, forward-looking approach to address the crisis facing cultural spaces in the city. This program will help to achieve the goals set out in Culture Connects: an Action Plan for Culture In Toronto (2025-2035) to preserve and expand arts and cultural spaces, and deliver on the City’s target to create one million new square feet of cultural space over the next decade.”

Patrick Tobin, General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, City of Toronto 

“Toronto-based artists and arts organizations are grappling with a significant lack of affordable creative space that is safe, accessible, and meets their artistic needs. Initiatives like ArtsBuild’s Social Purpose Real Estate for Arts Spaces project will enhance local organizations’ capacity to engage with social purpose real estate and leverage innovative solutions. Toronto Arts Council is pleased to partner with ArtsBuild and others on strategic initiatives that respond to major sector challenges and opportunities.”

Kelly Langgard, Director and CEO, Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation 

“ArtsBuild Ontario’s SPRE initiatives are happening at a critical moment of post-pandemic recovery: as artists and cultural organizations continue to be displaced while municipalities face the ongoing challenge of vitalizing their neighbourhoods amidst vacated buildings, there is an opportunity for developers and the arts sector to work collaboratively together to re-envision mutually beneficial and innovative approaches to urban spaces. The Creative School is thrilled to partner with the Space Lab to provide a site for these discussions and to empower artists and cultural organizations with the tools to advocate effectively both for their needs and for the creation of thriving communities.”

Dr. Natalie Álvarez, Associate Dean, Scholarly, Research and Creative Activities Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies, The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University

“In today’s landscape of uncertainty for arts spaces, social purpose real estate (SPRE) has emerged as a transformative strategy for cultural organizations. By addressing the intersections of zoning, urban planning, and collaboration with developers, landowners, and municipalities, we can create sustainable environments for the arts to thrive. Through knowledge mobilization—encompassing training modules, case studies, panel discussions and the Space Lab through TMU’s Creative School—we can empower cultural organizations to pioneer innovative solutions that not only respond to current challenges but also lay the groundwork for enduring success in our communities.” 

Alex Glass, Executive Director of ArtsBuild Ontario 

About Us

ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is a provincial arts service organization that provides small and medium-sized organizations with tools, training, and advice to successfully manage physical and digital creative spaces. ABO works to reimagine the future of creative spaces through dedicated research projects and an engaged network of supportive partners. Learn more at www.artsbuildontario.ca.

Media Contact

Helena Ciuciura
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
ArtsBuild Ontario
helena@artsbuildontario.ca
519.880.3670 ext 101

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ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is looking to hire two positions to join our team to support our services and operations at 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace. We are currently looking to hire:

• Community Activator (part-time): to support the day-to-day management of 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, including short-term rentals, tenants and marketing for our local arts sector in Waterloo Region.
• Marketing Coordinator (part-time): to support ABO’s provincial services including programs, projects and research.

ArtsBuild Ontario is an organization that is working to embed the values of individual and group differences within its working environment. We strive to embrace the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives of our staff, members, arts community, and partners. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, and people across the spectrums of gender, sexuality, age, and abilities are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter until Wednesday, November 9 to Alex Glass, Executive Director at alex@artsbuildontario.ca. No phone calls please.

ArtsBuild Ontario submitted a brief for the 2022 Provincial Pre-Budget Consultations calling for a permanent cultural infrastructure fund at the provincial level.

Creative spaces (like theatres, museums, galleries, etc…) are the places where arts and culture happen. Despite their importance, facilities are the most under-resourced component of arts operations. This strain was magnified throughout the pandemic with the closure and reduced operations of cultural venues across the province. With support from the Province of Ontario, arts organizations can rebuild themselves with new digital, COVID-19-safe, and sustainable infrastructure that will allow for the economic recovery of the sector. 

We suggest the following recommendations: 

Establish a permanent cultural infrastructure fund of $15-20 million annually

• We believe that access to a provincial capital fund for cultural infrastructure is necessary for building COVID-19-safe and digitally-forward creative spaces. This investment would support the sustainability and growth of our cultural assets in Ontario.
• Our data indicates that arts organizations in Ontario collectively need $300 million to complete current and future capital projects. 
• We recommend coordinating with the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, which provides matching funds at the Federal level. Many small to medium-sized organizations struggle to apply to this fund as there is no significant provincial level grant adequate to meet their needs.
• We are thankful for the reinstatement of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Capital Stream – as this is the only provincial fund available for arts organizations and their capital projects. The maximum amount awarded for this grant is $150,000; however, our data demonstrates that the investment needed to adequately support creative spaces far exceeds this amount. 
• We recommend that this fund be accessible to small to medium-sized arts organizations, to support short-term space leases (under 5 years). 
• Lastly, arts organizations need support for digital infrastructure. Over the course of the pandemic, many developed digital methods for artistic production and presentation.  Provincial support can mobilize the arts towards a digital future alongside creative spaces with further investment.

Increase the Ontario Arts Council’s base budget to $95 million annually 

• Many of the arts organizations and artists we serve are supported by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). According to the Canadian Artists Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC Ontario), the OAC would require a $110 million base budget in 2022 in order to remain in line with 1991 investment levels. To support the post-pandemic recovery of the arts sector, further investment in the OAC is needed.

Position: Consultant
Tentative Start Date: September 30, 2021
End Date: January 31, 2022
Location: Ontario
Position Type: Contract $6,500

Deadline to submit proposal: September 17 at 5pm.

Introduction

ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is the only organization in Ontario dedicated to realizing long-term solutions for building, managing and financing the sustainable arts facilities needed in Ontario’s diverse communities. We are a non-profit arts service organization that provides organizations with training, tools and resources that support the development and management of creative spaces such as theatres, galleries, concert halls, museums and other creative spaces.

ABO is seeking proposals from qualified consultants and/or consulting firms to assist in the development of a three-year comprehensive strategic plan that will focus on our network’s needs, our services, our values and our vision for the future.

ABO is an organization that is working to embed the values of individual and group differences within its working environment. We strive to embrace the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives of our staff, members, arts community, and partners. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, and people across the spectrums of gender, sexuality, age, and abilities are encouraged to apply.

Scope of Work

The consultant shall complete the following:

• Design and execute a strategic visioning and comprehensive planning process including consultations and workshops with Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, Staff, Funders and Key Partners
• Develop recommendations for a three-year actionable strategic plan

Anticipated Process

ABO seeks the consultant’s recommendations regarding the best process for developing the strategic plan, to be conducted in two parts:

Part 1: Vision, Strategic Directions and Research

1. Consultations: Develop consultation framework and questions/issues for staff, advisory committee, funders and key partners.
2. Research: Integrate related data, stakeholder strategic plans and any relevant research and best practices that compliments strategic directions and stakeholder consultations.
3. Synthesize: Consolidate consultation feedback and research. After consultation with Board of Directors, identify strategic directions and goals.

Part 2: Write the Strategic Plan

Utilizing information from the first stage, the consultation will develop recommendations for a strategic plan. This plan will serve as ArtsBuild Ontario’s guide for the next three years.

Consultant Qualifications

To accomplish the scope requested, the consultant will need to possess the following qualifications:

• Experience at successfully developing consensus-based strategic plans
• Knowledgeable of collective impact or collaborative strategic initiatives
• Strong facilitation skills
• Knowledgeable of non-profit/charitable sector
• Experience at creating a neutral environment for, and soliciting input from, individuals from various sectors
• Experience at gathering and utilizing data to inform the strategic planning process
• Knowledgeable in marketing, communications, and branding
• Knowledgeable in resource/program development

Work Plan

The proposal should contain a detailed description of the activities to be conducted by the consultant in order to complete the requested scope of work, including:

• Specific activities to be conducted at each stage
• Who will be involved at each stage
• A timeline for the activities at each stage
• Milestones and deliverables tied to those activities
• A proposed payment schedule

Criteria for Evaluating Success of the Project

The Board of Directors will deem this a successful project when they are given a clear report which outlines the strategic directions, areas of improvement and a recommended action plan. Previous strategic and other corporate materials will be provided to the consultant as background information upon request.

Previous Work Product

The proposal should include at least two examples of written work similar to the scope of work requested within this RFP.

Proposed Timeline

• September 24-30, 2021: Interview process
• September 30, 2021: Contract issued
• October 11 – November 15, 2021: Phase One (Board retreat, Consultations and Research)
• November 15 – December 13, 2021: Phase Two (Provide recommendations for Strategic Plan)

Please forward proposal to Alex Glass, Executive Director

Email: alex@artsbuildontario.ca

Subject line: Proposal offer: ABO Strategic Planning Consultant