In a twist to what has become an all too familiar refrain of late, there’s a good news story to tell about Toronto’s spaces dedicated to arts and culture. Last August, LvT reported the bad news that Toronto Artscape Inc. was falling into receivership.
Grappling with accumulated debt and a slow recovery from the pandemic lows, an attempted sale of the Queen’s Quay property (Daniels Launchpad) fell through, and their restructuring attempt fell apart. Officially, Artscape went into receivership on January 11, 2024.
But, that’s not the end of the story.
A Community Comes Together
Toronto Artscape Inc. was in operation for more than three decades, providing affordable space for arts and culture, along with community building, in the city. The organization operated 14 projects, which included live/work spaces, cultural hubs, and other types of spaces that were used for arts and cultural projects. Wynchwood Barns, Daniels Launchpad, and other popular city arts venues were on the list.
After the bad news hit, Artscape staff went to work developing new models, and making new deals with the key stakeholders. Several organizations stepped up to the plate to offer support for a four-month period of restructuring. The City of Toronto, several financial institutions, anonymous donors and other organizations came together to allow Artscape to maintain a skeleton staff to get the job done.
After the negotiations, two new collaborations with ANPHI Affordable Homes Inc. and ArtHubs Toronto Inc. emerged.
ANPHI Affordable Homes Inc. is a new non-profit housing provider and sister organization to Artscape Non-Profit Homes Inc. (ANPHI) It will handle operations at Bayside Lofts, Weston Common and Parkdale Arts & Cultural Centre. ANPHI already operates Artscape West Queen West since 1995 and affordable housing at Wychwood Barns since 2008.
WoodGreen Community Services will replace Toronto Artscape Inc. in providing management services.
Warren Cass, Chair of both ANPHI and ANPHI Affordable Homes Inc. comments in a statement, “We look forward to continuing Artscape’s important mission of providing affordable homes to Toronto’s arts community. We wish to reassure the artist-led families that reside in these spaces that their tenancies will not be interrupted by these changes, and that we, WoodGreen, and Artscape are working hard to ensure a smooth transition. We are confident that tenants will benefit from WoodGreen’s high-quality, experienced property management.”
ArtHubs Toronto Inc. is a new non-profit entity that will take on operations of all Toronto Artscape Inc.-operated community cultural hubs. Financing is in place for the new non-profit’s first year of operations, and the continuity of hub services and tenancy arrangements for Gibraltar Point, Wychwood Barns, Daniels Spectrum and Youngplace.
OCAD University is acting as a strategic partner, and occupy one seat on the organization’s new governing board.
“Having hubs devoted to arts and culture in different neighbourhoods across the city is incredibly important for a vibrant Toronto. OCAD University is happy to be a key contributor to keeping these spaces open where Toronto’s arts community can commune and work with civil society and the public,” says Ana Serrano, President and Vice-Chancellor of OCAD U. “We look forward to working with ArtHubs over the next year to create a sustainable model for these centres.”
The Caveat
Not all of Artscape Inc.’s assets could be included within the new operating models that have been created. The properties at Launchpad, Triangle Lofts, Youngplace and 210 Simcoe will be acquired by the court-appointed receiver.
That’s not to say that efforts at maintaining affordable spaces in those properties are not ongoing. A deal is in the works to look after the affordable home ownership units.
New deals are also in the works for Sandbox and the cultural hub at Weston Common, with a transitional plans in place to minimize disruption to existing tenants as long term operations are ironed out.
The City of Toronto has played a key role in the negotiations and support. The City will take over Sandbox, exercising an option in the original agreement with Artscape to buy the property back at a nominal price.
“The City was proud to partner with staff from Artscape and a committed group of city-builders spanning philanthropy, advanced education and the development industry, among others, to find a set of solutions that minimized the impacts of Artscape’s financial challenges on artists, tenants and the broader arts community served by Artscape’s facilities,” says Patrick Tobin, General Manager of Economic Development & Culture at the City of Toronto. “As a partner in ArtHubs Toronto, we look forward to seeing how this network of important community and cultural hubs can continue to serve Toronto’s vibrant arts sector.”
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