Support – Launch of Cultural Property Projects

Who is this program for?

This program is for artists, artist collectives and cultural organizations with a property project under study.

What are its objectives?

The program helps artists, artist collectives and cultural organizations develop and ensure the sustainability of their creative spaces.

What assistance is provided?

It is an accompaniment by a group of technical resources (TRG*) in Montréal for several months supported by the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

Here are a few examples of what a TRG can do for a cultural organization’s property project:

• Assistance in defining the project
• Financing and viability study
• Finding a place adapted to the needs of the group
• Search for financing
• Assistance with legal issues related to a building project (governance structure, tenure type)
• Project execution (coordinating project professionals during work, accounting, permit applications, etc.)

Examples of services a TRG CANNOT provide:

• Support for artistic project governance
• Developing a business model for cultural organization operations

How long does the support last?

Approximately 100 hours of support will be offered between January and June 2023.

What are the general eligibility criteria?

To apply, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The property project must be led by a non-profit organization (individual or private projects are not accepted).
• The project must be for professional artists living in Montréal.
• The project must be primarily non-residential.
• The project must be located on the Island of Montréal.

How to apply?

Describe your group and your property project in a maximum of five pages (letter format, not handwritten, in PDF format), specifically detailing the elements below.

• What arts disciplines or sectors are being considered?
• Who is the project sponsor?
  Introduce yourself in a few lines. For example, are you an informal group of professional artists or a cultural organization made up of several organizations? How many years have you been operating?
• What is your property project?
  – Who is it for?
  – What needs does it meet?
  – Have you found a building?
• What steps have been completed? What processes you have undertaken?
  For example, setting up a committee, assessing property opportunities, implementing a functional and technical plan, etc.
• What human resources do you have for developing the property project?
  Briefly specify who is leading the project and the human resources you will be committing to it.
• Have you completed or are you planning to complete a business plan for your organization’s operations that accounts for the impacts of a new property project?
  Briefly state the key operational impacts that a new property project would have on your organization as well as the main strategies and resources needed to manage it. For example, will you need to increase your operating revenues once the property project has been completed? Will this property project be an opportunity for your organization to increase its own-source revenue? Will you need to expand your team? Remember that technical resource groups (TRGs) can help you develop your PROPERTY project business plan, which is different from your organization’s business plan.
• Have you identified sources of funding for the development and/or completion of the property project?
  If yes, please name the source(s).
• What kind of support do you expect from a TRG?
  Refer to the elements previously mentioned on the services offered by the TRGs.

The application must be sent by e-mail to melanie.courtois.ext@montreal.ca.

What documents and information must be provided with your application?

PDF only:
• A presentation of the organization responsible for the project (CVs of group members if not an incorporated organization)
• Any relevant project documentation (e.g., draft agreement with an owner, minutes of work meetings, functional and technical study plan, etc.)

Special conditions

This support is documented by the participating groups for the purpose of sharing expertise. The selected collectives must provide a written record of their experience of the support and consent to the key learnings and issues raised being included in a report. The report will be anonymous and may be made public.

Funding for this support is entirely and directly covered by the Conseil des arts de Montréal. Each selected group will receive $2,000 to help offset the cost of preparing the required report.