Space for Arts Pilot Program
December 11, 2012 - Toronto Arts Council, with support of Councillor Adam Vaughan and the City of Toronto is developing a Space for Art program. Under this program, small arts work spaces will be offered to artists and non-profit arts organizations on a short term cost-recovery basis
Space for Art is a pilot program through which Toronto Arts Council will manage a select number of below market rent spaces for arts use. The intent of the program is to help address the critical shortage of space for artists and arts programming in Toronto, enhance the profile of the arts in Toronto and contribute to the street life and vitality of City neighbourhoods.
TAC is acquiring space as it becomes available as part of agreements between developers and the City. Spaces are small (usually 500 to 1000 s.f.) and located in separate developments. Space will be allocated to artists or arts organizations on a short term basis. Live/work space is not part of the program.
The intent of the pilot program is to fulfill the following objectives:
1) To enhance the neighbourhood by providing public access to arts
2) To support artists and non-profit arts organizations through the provision of affordable space
Toronto artists and not-for-profit arts organizations are invited to submit proposals for use of Toronto Arts Council’s first Space for Art project – 156 Portland – TAC Art/Work Gallery.
SCHEDULE
Request for Proposals Release: December 7, 2012
Information Session: January 17, 2013, 3:00 pm
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2013 5:00 pm
Expected Availability: April 2013, and later
156 PORTLAND - TAC ART/WORK GALLERY
The condo development at Queen and Portland includes a gallery/studio space of 975 s.f. on the ground floor. This space will be operated by Toronto Arts Council with the objective of providing artists and arts organizations with affordable space, offering the public access to arts programming and increasing the vibrancy of the streetscape. TAC is running the program as a pilot for the first year. The space will be available on a short term basis, up to a maximum of ten months. It has been designed as a gallery space in which it will be easy to hang and exhibit works of art.
The short term tenants of the space will be selected on the following criteria:
The eligibility of the applicant
professional artist – see individual artist eligibility criteria, p4
non-profit arts organization
The proposed plan for public access to the space (gallery hours, workshops, etc)
Proposed plans, if any, for collaborative use of the space with other artists or arts organizations
First available date: April, 2013 (subject to change)
Occupancy period: Respondents may propose to use the space for any short term period ranging from one month to ten months.
Cost: The 975 s.f. gallery will be made available to eligible artists or non-profit organizations for $1,200 per month (non-profit rate).
STEP 1 REGISTRATION
Respondents are strongly encouraged to register their intent to submit a proposal to Peter Kingstone, Visual and Media Arts Officer peter@torontoartscouncil.org with the email subject: TAC Art Work Space RFP.
In your email, please include:
• Name of primary contact person
• Organization name (if applicable)
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Indicate whether you are an Artist or Not-for-Profit Arts or Community Organization
STEP 2 INFORMATION SESSIONS
The first information session will be held on January 17 at 3:00 p.m. The session will take place at Toronto Arts Council, 141 Bathurst St. The session will consist of a short presentation on the Space for Art Pilot program, a question and answer period about the RFP followed by a tour of the first Art Work Space to become available. To RSVP for an information session please email peter@torontoartscouncil.org.
STEP 3 SUBMIT PROPOSAL
Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm on February 15, 2013
Send ONE original copy and supporting documentation and ONE electronic copy and supporting documentation to:
Toronto Arts Council Art/Work Gallery Attn: Peter Kingstone, Visual and Media Arts Officer, 200-26 Grand Trunk Cres., Toronto, ON M5J 3A9; peter@torontoartscouncil.org. (note new address effective February 1, 2013.
All submissions will be considered confidential. Please prepare a submission which addresses the areas outlined below
SUBMISSIONS FOR ARTISTS
A 3 – 5 page (maximum) submission which sets out:
An outline of your space requirements, including how many square feet you require and any technical specifications and needs for the space (ie. lighting, sound, plumbing, ventilation)
Your requested occupancy period (one to ten months)
Your proposed use of the space, providing detail on your artistic practice
Your plan for public access to the space
An outline of any proposed collaboration with other artists
A professional artist CV. (if you are or have been a TAC grant recipient, please indicate this).
SUBMISSION FOR ORGANIZATIONS
A 3-5 page (maximum) submission which sets out:
Organization History including mission statement, years of operation and a brief description of the organization’s current programs and services
An outline of your space requirements, including how many square feet you require and any technical specifications and needs for the space (ie. lighting, sound, plumbing, ventilation)
Your requested occupancy period (one to ten months)
Your proposed use of the space, providing detail on proposed programming
Your plan for public access to the space
Your plan for collaboration with other organizations or artists if applicable
Any program plans for how the space will involve the community
Your organization’s most recent audited financial statements
A financial plan indicating how the space will be affordable
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm on February 15, 2013
Send ONE original copy and supporting documentation and ONE electronic copy and supporting documentation to: Toronto Arts Council Art/Work Gallery Attn: Peter Kingstone, Visual and Media Arts Officer, 200-26 Grand Trunk Cres., Toronto, ON M5J 3A9; peter@torontoartscouncil.org. (note new address, effective February 1, 2013.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Individual artist Eligibility - applicants must be professional artists and meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
Applicants must currently maintain a residence or artist’s studio in the City of Toronto and must have done so for at least one year prior to the submission deadline.
Applicants must live/work in Toronto for at least 8 months of the year.
Applicants must have completed basic training (not necessarily in a formal educational institution.)
Applicants must have spent a minimum of one year working on and developing an independent art practice after completing full-time studies.
Full-time undergraduate students are not eligible.
Applicants must retain full copyright, financial and creative control.
Arts organization eligibility
Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives that operate on a not-for-profit basis.
A collective is defined as a group of two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.
Applicants must be located within the City of Toronto
ABOUT TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL
www.torontoartscouncil.org
LIMITATIONS
Any Respondent making a submission in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) does so fully accepting the following provisions:
The information contained in this RFP intended for information purposes only to assist interested parties in assessing whether or not to respond to such request. No representation or warranty express or implied, is made by Toronto Arts Council or any of its agents, as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. Neither Toronto Arts Council nor its agents will be responsible for, and hereby expressly disclaim, any and all liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in connection therewith. In its response to this RFP, the Respondent must disclose to Toronto Arts Council, any potential conflict of interest that might compromise this process. If such a conflict of interest does exist, Toronto Arts Council may, at its discretion, refuse to consider the response in question.
The Respondent must also disclose whether it is aware if any Toronto Arts Council employee or member of the Board of Directors has a financial interest in the Respondent and the nature of that interest. If such an interest exists or arises at any point leading to the selection of the successful Respondent, Toronto Arts Council may, at its discretion, refuse to consider the response, or proceed with the Respondent any further in this process unless and until the matter is resolved to Toronto Arts Council’s sole satisfaction. All information provided by or obtained at any time from Toronto Arts Council or its agents in any form in connection with this RFP that is not publicly available (i) must be treated in a highly confidential manner; (ii) is not to be used for any other purpose other than responding to this RFP; (iii) must not be disclosed to any other person without the prior written authorization of Toronto Arts Council; and (iv) shall be returned to Toronto Arts Council immediately upon the request of Toronto Arts Council.
Toronto Arts Council reserves the right to terminate this RFP at any time for any reason.