Artscape is a not-for-profit organization that
makes space for creativity and transforms communities.
Artscape is a not-for-profit organization that
makes space for creativity and transforms communities.
Artscape’s suite of Workshops are one-day or half-day events that focus on building the organizational and leadership capacity of communities to develop sustainable space for the arts and culture and to engage art, culture and creativity in revitalization efforts. Over the last five years, Artscape has facilitated workshops in Oshawa, Windsor, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Markham, Kingston, Hamilton and Toronto, and connected over 800 participants from over 100 different communities.
Ensuring a Local Perspective and Focus
Artscape Workshops create the opportunity to learn from the experts and apply that learning to the particular challenges and opportunities in your community. Up to two Local Spotlight presentations will be planned within each Workshop to highlight particular projects or opportunities / challenges in your community. Local Spotlight presenters also join our faculty for the very popular Workshop Commons session, an opportunity for participants to discuss local projects, challenges and opportunities with the Workshop team.
Supporting Cross-Sector Dialogue
Our workshops are designed to attract interdisciplinary and cross sector participants and one of the great benefits of the workshop is the opportunity for arts organizations, local economic development and planning professionals, local politicians, funders and property owners / developers to meet each other, network and share the inspiration and the practical tools that we can offer.
Who Should Attend?
The target audience for all workshops includes individuals, organizations or partnerships that are engaged in cultural facility projects, including:
Artscape offers three Workshop options, depending on the needs and priorities of your community. They are:
*Note: Both the Creative Spacemaking and Creative Placemaking workshops are developed in cooperation with the host community, to ensure that workshop content is reflective of local context and concerns. Please contact Barb Besner, Program Manager, Knowledge Exchange via email or 416-392-1038 x41 to discuss your specific needs and priorities.
1. Creative Spacemaking (one-day)
Artscape’s Creative Spacemaking Workshop brings together top practitioners for a comprehensive learning experience that demystifies the complexity of cultural space development, connects participants with similar-minded practitioners, and highlights innovative partnerships that have successfully anchored creative communities within sustainable and affordable spaces.
This one-day workshop offers leading advice, tools and a chance to meet the experts during interactive sessions on topics ranging from community engagement and project planning to feasibility analysis, capital fundraising and governance models. The Creative Spacemaking workshop is suitable for up to 80 participants.
2. Creative Placemaking (one-day)
Artscape’s Creative Placemaking Workshop investigates strategies to connect and leverage the creative and cultural resources of communities in generating quality of place and supporting local economic development.
Participants learn how to nurture and sustain the conditions for culture and creativity to thrive in downtowns, cultural districts, neighbourhoods and mainstreets and explore the potential of the arts and culture as a key tool in revitalization and creative city-building. Participants learn practical planning tools for undertaking creative placemaking initiatives in a range of different contexts. Topics include strategic planning, governance and cross-sector partnerships and community engagement. The Creative Placemaking workshop is suitable for up to 80 participants.
3. Artscape: Making Space for Creativity and Transforming Communities (half-day)
Taking place over a half-day, our newest workshop is an intensive look into Artscape practice and projects. Over the last 25 years, Artscape has developed a reputation as Canada's leading practitioner in multi-tenant space development for the arts and culture sector, successfully transforming a portfolio of underutilized buildings across Toronto into dynamic community assets. Artscape projects provide sustainable and affordable production, rehearsal, exhibition, and living space for hundreds of artists, designer/makers, galleries, theatres and not-for profit organizations. These projects have been catalysts for the regeneration of some of the city’s most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods.
This workshop will be focused around Artscape’s belief that the arts and culture can transform the lives of individuals and communities. Participants will take an in-depth look at how Artscape has developed many of its projects, including common challenges and strategies for success. The workshop is designed to bring together anyone with an interest in city-building through the arts, including arts professionals, local and regional government representatives, planners, architects, and designers, and students and researchers interested in Artscape’s practice. This workshop is suitable for groups of 30 to 50 participants.
The fee for presenting and facilitating the Artscape: Making Space for Creativity and Transforming Communities workshop is $3,750.
