Lease opportunity: City music production space at 1616 West 7th Ave

Our goal is to provide the cultural amenity space for a long-term lease. 

The operator will be responsible for:

• All operational costs
• Additional space improvements
• Maintenance
• Any additional funds required to support start-up expenses

Who is eligible

• Non-profit societies and co-operatives legally registered and in good standing with BC Registries and Services, including urban Indigenous non-profit organizations, AND/OR
• First Nations band councils on whose unceded traditional homelands Vancouver sits, AND/OR
• A registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Note Partnerships between non-profit arts and cultural organizations are eligible and encouraged, but it's not a requirement

You must have:

• A strong cultural mandate
• A strong and active history of providing ongoing and equitable access to quality music, arts, and cultural programming, and services within Vancouver
• Been operational for at least one full year

Who is not eligible

Organizations that:

• Do not have an active presence in Vancouver
• Whose primary purpose or activity is the provision of health care, educational, sport, recreational, or religious programs and services are not eligible

Important note This opportunity is not open to individual artists who are looking to rent studio space for music production. Future tenanting and/or bookings of the space for individual artists will be looked after by the selected non-profit operator.

Project alignment and vision

• How does the proposal align with the our priorities, identified in Culture|Shift (Vancouver’s overarching 10-year cultural plan), Making Space for Arts and Culture (11 MB) and the Vancouver Music Strategy, and support and amplify the artistic practices and voices of Indigenous communities and diverse or historically underrepresented and/or under-served communities? Eligible applicants are encouraged to consider a vision, framework, and operational model that supports and amplifies the artistic practices and voices of Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, Indigenous artists, and diverse and/or historically underrepresented and/or under-served communities
• How does the proposal demonstrate a strong organizational vision and support the arts and cultural community it is intended to serve through artists’ access to space, tenanting, partnerships, programming, and other?

Organizational capacity

• How does the proposal demonstrate consistency with the organization’s mission and strategic plan? 
• How does collaboration and partnerships (if any) contribute to the vision and operations of the space? 

Project vitality

• How does the proposal demonstrate vitality by enhancing opportunities for the arts and cultural community to thrive, innovate, and grow? 
• Does the proposal demonstrate fiscal responsibility, fundraising success, and realistic operational costs, labour, and expenses? 
• Does the proposal demonstrate affordability and sustainability? 

Important note Full submission requirements and key dates will be posted when available (estimated in early 2023).

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1. Provide a short online statement of intent form to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements.  
2. If eligible, you will be invited to participate in a request for proposal process.
3. Cultural Services staff will organize information sessions and answer questions to clarify any aspect of the request for proposal process prior to the submission deadline.

Important note Full submission requirements and key dates will be posted when available (estimated in early 2023).
 

Organizational information

Your organization's: 

• Mandate and mission
• Core programming
• Governance
• Staffing 
• Certificate of incorporation 
• Financial statements

Plan and vision for the music space

Provide your plan and vision for the space, including: 

• Alignment with key directions in Culture|Shift, Making Space for Arts and Culture (11 MB), and the Vancouver Music Strategy
• Who the space will serve, processes to support users, and tenant selection process 
• Potential partners (and if partnerships are proposed, letters of agreement on the partnerships)
• Operational model and 5 year operating pro-forma
• Any improvements that may be required in the space to be operational (for example equipment, additional fixtures, and fit out) and budget for improvements

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• 1616 West 7th Ave floor plans PDF file (1 MB)
• Staff report PDF file (1.3 MB)
• 1616 West 7th Ave development permit application