BC Artscape Launches in Vancouver

Last night, the launch of BC Artscape, a new Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that will make space for creativity and transform communities, was celebrated by a crowd of 150 government, arts community, urban development and philanthropic supporters at MakerLabs. The organization's preliminary start-up capital was announced: $700,000 in confirmed funding from the City of Vancouver, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and Vancity Community Foundation and $200,000 in additional pledges from unnamed sources. These generous funding partners have ensured the foundation for BC Artscape to take root in British Columbia.

"The City of Vancouver's role as a founding partner in the launch of BC Artscape once again shows City Hall's deep commitment to supporting artists and our world-class arts and culture community," said Mayor Gregor Robertson. "BC Artscape is an exciting new addition to our vibrant and fast-growing creative sector. Vancouver is home to the most artists per capita of any major city in Canada, and this new initiative will help meet our city's high demand for affordable new spaces for local artists and entrepreneurs."

"The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is proud to partner with the City of Vancouver and Vancity Community Foundation in enabling Artscape to initiate its program in British Columbia," said Stephen Huddard, President and CEO, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. "The launch of BC Artscape holds national significance as the organization seeks to share lessons in 'creative placemaking' with an emerging Canadian network of social entrepreneurs in this field. We look forward to seeing the community transformation that will arise."

"We are very pleased to collaborate in this effort that will enhance the ability for non-profit organizations to more directly engage in and benefit from real estate developments in our region," said Derek Gent, Executive Director, Vancity Community Foundation. "Creative placemaking is a powerful concept that we believe our community can use more of."

"Vancouver is a fantastic place to launch our first major expansion into another market," said Tim Jones, President and CEO of Artscape, the Toronto-based affiliate of BC Artscape. "We are humbled by the level of enthusiasm and support we have received and excited about the many project opportunities that are emerging."

BC Artscape will operate as an independent, local affiliate of Artscape, the 27-year old, award-winning, Toronto-based non-profit known for pioneering a unique approach to urban development called "creative placemaking." BC Artscape will leverage Artscape's talent and track record in an effort to significantly accelerate cultural facility development in Vancouver and beyond. BC Artscape will be governed by a local Board of Directors. Board recruitment is currently underway along with a search for its president.

Despite the high price of real estate, BC Artscape is already exploring six capital project opportunities in Vancouver and has started to discuss the potential of creative placemaking with communities in the Greater Vancouver area. The organization will focus its development activities on projects of scale (30,000 square feet or more) while also supporting smaller, independently-led initiatives through a mentoring and coaching program. Priority will be given to projects that provide affordable space for creativity and will play a strong role in community transformation.

The mentorship and coaching application process will be launched in January 2015 at www.bcartscape.ca and will allow selected participants to work closely with Artscape's senior specialist staff in a program that will develop their capacity across project vision development, business planning, market testing and feasibility analysis, operational development and management.