Announcing SpaceFinder York Region!

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ArtsBuild Ontario, in partnership with the York Region Arts Council, Town of Newmarket, Town of Richmond Hill, City of Markham and Toronto and Region Conservation, are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of SpaceFinder York Region in Spring 2017.

SpaceFinder offers a large-scale solution for artists and creative spaces in York Region. Billed as an “air bnb” for artists, SpaceFinder is a free online tool for artists to search for space, and for creative spaces to promote their rentals. SpaceFinder is designed to help increase the visibility of creative space, helping artists easily find space, and helping venues promote their under-utilized rental space.

Created by Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization based in New York, SpaceFinder is a first-of-its-kind online service that enables venues to market their spaces by creating listings with photos, rental rates and equipment, and uploading a digital calendar to the website. Artists and renters can search for creative workspaces that meet their needs based on location, price, amenities and up-to-date availability.

SpaceFinder first launched in Canada in November 2014 with SpaceFinder Toronto. Since introducing the tool to the city’s creative community, it has become a primary resource for artists to discover creative space. SpaceFinder is currently active in three Ontario regions, including Toronto, Hamilton and Waterloo Region. The site is also active in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, as well as 15 U.S. cities.

The York Region Arts Council has partnered with ArtsBuild Ontario to deliver this tool in addition to community partners; Town of Newmarket, Town of Richmond Hill, City of Markham, and Toronto and Region Conservation, to bring this tool to the community. SpaceFinder York Region is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

SpaceFinder York Region is accepting space listings! If you have a creative space to list, please visit spacefinderyorkregion.org.

Quotes:

 

“SpaceFinder York Region will provide creative spaces with a new avenue to promote rentals and expand audiences. We are so pleased to be working with York Region Arts Council and all our local partners in bringing this important resource to the creative community.”
Lindsay Golds, Executive Director of ArtsBuild Ontario

“One of the challenges York Region artists and arts organizations face is a perceived lack of space. Though the Region does not have an abundance of traditional arts and cultural venues, there are many alternative spaces that have the potential to be used in new and innovative ways. We are thrilled to partner with ArtsBuild Ontario and our community partners to bring SpaceFinder to York Region’s creative community. It’s a big step forward in our efforts to provide more accessible space for artists, cultural organizations and creative entrepreneurs.”
Samantha Wainberg, Executive Director, York Region Arts Council

 

Blog Post: Arts Day on the Hill Recap

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Advocacy is an important piece of ArtsBuild’s work on behalf of arts organizations in Ontario. Last week, we joined arts advocates across the country for #ArtsDay on the Hill -a national  day of arts advocacy organized and led by the Canadian Arts Coalition. Over 160 artists, arts managers and board members of arts organizations participated, making it the largest attended Arts Day to date!

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On Monday night before Arts Day, arts advocates gathered for a training session hosted by the Canadian Arts Coalition (CAC) to prepare speaking points for our meetings with MPs. The energy and passion in the room from arts supporters across our nation paired with guidance from the CAC prepared us to head into our respective meetings.

Three speaking points from the CAC were:

  1. Thank you for the arts and culture investments in Budget 2016 ($1.87 billion over five years)
  2. Short-term investments from Budget 2016, in the Cultural Spaces and in the Showcasing Canada programs, need to be extended and sustained beyond two year.
  3. The Digital Culture consultations are an essential process between government, industry, and artists – the Canadian Arts Coalition wants to ensure that artists are part of the conversation

Arts Day was an opportunity to advocate for the important work happening in arts and culture organizations in Canadian communities with these three key messages from CAC – and a large item on the list was an increased investment in the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. Teamed with PACT, Mirvish and the Canadian League of Composers – we met with two Members of Parliament: Scott Duvall, MP of the Hamilton Mountain and Kyle Peterson, MP of Newmarket-Aurora – both supporters of the arts in their communities.

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ArtsBuild spoke to all three speaking points, with emphasis on the importance of extending funding in the Canadian Cultural Spaces Fund to Phase 2 of the Government of Canada’s Infrastructure plan. We stressed that the extension needs to be included in Budget 2017, so that arts organizations can begin feasibility studies on their capital projects.

Arts Day was an exciting and essential initiative to participate in – especially since this year’s messaging tied closely to the advocacy work of ArtsBuild. We would like to thank the Canadian Arts Coalition for organizing this important and vital day of advocacy for arts and culture!

Media Release: SpaceFinder launches in Waterloo at Amplify 2016

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For immediate release: Kitchener, ON, Oct. 19, 2016:  ArtsBuild Ontario is pleased to announce the launch of SpaceFinder Waterloo Region to artists and creative spaces in the City of Waterloo on Oct. 26, 2016 at Amplify – a full day summit, organized by the City of Waterloo, that celebrates creativity and innovation in the region.

SpaceFinder offers a large-scale solution for artists and creative spaces for Waterloo’s creative community. Billed as an “Air BnB” for artists, SpaceFinder is a free online tool for artists to search for space, and for creative spaces to promote their rentals. SpaceFinder is designed to help increase the visibility of creative space, helping artists easily find space, and helping venues promote their under-utilized rental space.  And unlike other rental sites, users do not pay any booking or search fees to use SpaceFinder Waterloo Region.

Created by Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization based in New York, SpaceFinder is a first-of-its-kind online service that enables venues to market their spaces by creating listings with photos, rental rates and equipment, and uploading a digital calendar to the website. Artists and renters can search for creative workspaces that meet their needs based on location, price, amenities and up-to-date availability. ArtsBuild has partnered with the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo, to bring this tool to the community.

ArtsBuild is leading the expansion of SpaceFinder across Canada with local leaders where the tool is currently active, including Toronto and Hamilton, as well as British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba – Waterloo Region is the first region to offer SpaceFinder to its creative community. SpaceFinder is also offered in 15 U.S. cities. SpaceFinder Waterloo Region is funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Government of Canada.

SpaceFinder Waterloo Region officially launches to artists in Waterloo on Oct. 26 at Creative Waterloo’s Amplify 2016. Hosted by SpaceFinder Waterloo Region community partners, Amplify provides a key opportunity for the creative community to learn about SpaceFinder as a free resource for finding and promoting alternative space. ArtsBuild will be presenting SpaceFinder at 4:25pm during a Peer-to-Peer session at Amplify under the topic of innovation at the day long event.

Quotes:

“SpaceFinder Waterloo Region provides artists and cultural organizations with new possibilities for finding creative space in our community. We are so pleased to be working with our local partners at the City of Waterloo in brining this important resource to our creative community.”
Lindsay Golds, Executive Director,ArtsBuild Ontario

 “It’s wonderful to see SpaceFinder right here in Waterloo Region! This matchmaking tool will foster cultural connections and I look forward to this creative approach having a positive impact on our community for many years.”
Dave Jaworsky, Waterloo Mayor

 “SpaceFinder Waterloo Region is a great resource for our community.  It makes finding, renting or sharing a creative space easier for everyone.  I am impressed by the number and variety of spaces that have already been listed, and look forward to seeing the options grow as the tool is launched.”
Kate Hagerman, Cultural Heritage Specialist, Region of Waterloo

About ArtsBuild Ontario: 

ArtsBuild Ontario is the only organization in Ontario dedicated to realizing long-term solutions for building, managing and financing the sustainable arts facilities needed in Ontario communities. ArtsBuild provides tools, training and resources that support the development of sustainable creative spaces such as theatres, galleries, concert halls, museums and other arts facilities. www.artsbuildontario.ca

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Media Contact:

Alex Glass
Program Manager, ArtsBuild Ontario
alex@artsbuildontario.ca
Office: 519.880.3670 ext 103
Mobile: 226.792.4849

ArtsBuild’s new home at 44 Gaukel

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The front lobby at 44 Gaukel

ArtsBuild Ontario and our partners at the Accelerator Centre and the City of Kitchener officially opened the doors of 44 Gaukel this month during Start Up Open House Waterloo Region.

ArtsBuild Ontario has moved into 44 Gaukel along with local theatre company Green Light Arts, Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre, Kitchener-based film collective Film Factory, Hive Waterloo Region and Viral 360 Digital Media. Sharing the space is Accelerator Centre’s newest hardware innovation lab, with Alert Labs, InkSmith and MyShop Makerspace being just some of the tech start-ups calling 44 Gaukel home.

During our Open House, arts and technology tenants alike opened their doors to welcome the public, showcase their work and discuss the opportunities that abound in this new working space. ArtsBuild Ontario hosted demonstrations for SpaceFinder Waterloo Region, which officially launched to renters in conjunction with the event. Next door in Gaukel’s new rehearsal space, Green Light Arts’ Matt White led rehearsals for Eurydice to an enthralled audience. The film gurus of Film Factory showed off their high-tech camera equipment and Hive Waterloo Region demonstrated their coding prowess. On the tech side, MyShop Makerspace used their in-house vinyl cutter to make custom t-shirts and InkSmith had their 3D printers buzzing so visitors could check out the process up close. It was a great chance to mingle with new neighbours and chat with the public about the space.

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The 735 sq. ft. rehearsal space at 44 Gaukel.

44 Gaukel is a first-of-its-kind pilot project designed to bring together the worlds of arts and technology, spark creativity and promote cross-sector collaboration and opportunities. Previously underutilized, this former post office is now an example of creative place-making, providing both administrative and maker-space as well as a bookable community rehearsal space.  With 15 tenants, more than 50 employees and over 360 hours of rehearsal space booked for 2016, 44 Gaukel meets an immediate need for creative space and highlights the opportunities that abound for collaborative work space.

City of Toronto Seeking Submissions for 2017 Culture Build Investment Program

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The City of Toronto has announced its 2017 Culture Build Investment Program. The Culture Build Investment Program provides matching funds to assist the City’s not-for-profit cultural sector with funding for state-of-good-repair and minor capital projects for their facilities.

 Applicants to the Culture Build Investment Program must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1.    incorporated as a not-for-profit organization;

2.    located in the City of Toronto;

3.    have been in existence for a minimum of three years;

4.    own the facility or have at least five years remaining on their current lease at the time of applying to the program; and

5.    are not City-owned facilities.

Funding for feasibility studies may be provided to those organizations that meet the existing eligibility criteria. The program does not support regular building maintenance costs and cost of purchasing or building a facility and the maximum allocation available and recommended through the Culture Build Investment Program is $100,000.00

In all cases, the City’s grant will not exceed 50 percent of total capital costs with matching funds coming from other levels of government, private sector and/or in-kind contributions.

 The next submission deadline is February 3, 2017.

Applications and information about the Culture Build Investment Program is available by contacting Lori Martin at 416-392-5225 or lmartin2@toronto.ca or Konrad Skorupa at 416-392-9863 or kskorup@toronto.ca.