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City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release

February 19, 2025

City of Toronto protects vital workspaces at Youngplace for former Artscape tenants

The City of Toronto continues to take proactive measures to preserve vital cultural spaces so artists, cultural organizations and families can thrive at spaces like Youngplace, a key creative hub that was previously under the management of Toronto Artscape Inc.

The City and the Government of Canada provided funding to enable non-profit organizations at Youngplace, located at 180 Shaw St., to purchase their rented spaces. This ensures that the building remains a dedicated centre for creative expression and artistic growth.

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina–Fort York), joined tenants at Youngplace to announce that all existing residents and cultural organizations will be able to stay in their spaces following the receivership of Artscape.

Through this initiative, the City allocated nearly $1.5 million toward helping tenant organizations secure their spaces at Youngplace. Through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the Government of Canada invested more than $2.6 million to help provide stability for the future of these spaces.

The following Youngplace arts organizations received funding to support their purchase:

-Centre for Indigenous Theatre
-Intergalactic Arts Collective
-Koffler Centre of the Arts
-Small World Music
-Inspirit Foundation (purchasing units on behalf of Paperhouse Studio and Toronto Potters Guild)

In addition to supporting arts and cultural organizations, the City’s investment at Youngplace also protects childcare spaces. College-Montrose Children’s Place, an EarlyON childcare centre, received City funding to ensure continued access for families and reinforcing the City's commitment to accessible early childhood education.

As part of its broader efforts to protect former Artscape spaces, the City also committed $590,700 to acquire two affordable homes at 210 Simcoe St., ensuring long-term affordability for residents.

All former Artscape spaces now secured

In early 2024, properties formerly managed by Artscape entered receivership, placing 390 tenancies and workspaces at risk. Working in partnership with artists, the City took early action and successfully argued in court to exclude 91 per cent of Artscape’s tenancies from the receivership process. Since then, the City has protected the remaining nine per cent, ensuring that all tenants and residents can remain in their homes and workspaces.

Throughout the process, Toronto City Council has advocated for local artists and their families. Following Artscape’s insolvency, the City stepped in immediately to fund property management services across Artscape’s 14 buildings and helped establish ArtHubs, a new not-for-profit organization that now manages key community cultural hubs that were previously operated by Artscape including Daniels Spectrum, Gibraltar Point and Wychwood Barns.

The City continues to invest in both arts and affordable housing, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Toronto’s arts community while preserving affordable housing options for Torontonians.

This initiative aligns with Culture Connects: Toronto’s New Action Plan for Culture, which aims to strengthen the city’s cultural sector and support creative spaces. More information about Culture Connects can be found on the City’s website: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/long-term-vision-plans-and-strategies/action-plan-toronto-culture-sector/

Quotes:

“Youngplace has been a cornerstone of Toronto’s artistic community, providing essential space for creativity and collaboration. By ensuring that artists and organizations remain in their workspaces, we are preserving a vital part of our city’s cultural fabric. This investment reaffirms our commitment to supporting artists and fostering an inclusive, thriving arts scene."

– Mayor Olivia Chow

“Artists and art organizations at Youngplace are vital to the cultural fabric of Toronto. In these challenging times, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Canadian artists and arts organizations have professional cultural facilities across the country, so that all Canadians can experience our rich culture. This support, through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, will ensure that Youngplace remains a thriving community hub for artistic expression and innovation.”

– The Honourable Pascal St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“I am so proud that Youngplace will continue to be an institution for community gathering, artistic expression and nurturing the next generation of culture makers, locally and across Toronto. Over several months, my team and I worked closely with City staff and Youngplace tenants to secure funding and their spaces, to ensure artists have stability and neighbourhood services to remain vibrant and accessible for years to come. Investments like this keep Toronto’s creative communities strong.”

– Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina – Fort York)

“By transitioning from tenancy to ownership, we can more effectively fulfill our mission of creating opportunities for underrepresented artists and fostering a more inclusive community. When artists have reliable, accessible spaces to perform, create and connect with audiences, it strengthens our city's cultural fabric and paves the way for long-term career sustainability. The City's investment isn’t just about units in a building—it’s an investment in the future of our diverse artistic community.”

– Umair Jaffar, Executive Director, Small World Music

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit www.toronto.ca or follow us on X at x.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofto.

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Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca


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