Artscape Youngplace
Artscape is "a not-for-profit organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities" by transforming underutilized spaces and buildings into areas for artists and last week they had an open house and artist market at one of their newest projects. Artscape Youngplace is located in the old Shaw Street School which had been empty since 2000 after serving the West Queen Street West community from 1914 until then. Artscape spent millions of dollars converting the 75,000 sq ft building into a community cultural hub containing galleries, studios, and art organizations - some own their own spaces while others rent at below market rates. This enables artists to stay in this rapidly gentrifying expensive area downtown.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click here for more signs.
19 comments:
I love to see things like this. It makes so much sense to provide a place for talented people to work.
Now that's a terrific idea! We have so many unused buildings here, it would be great if they were turned into places like this.
Affordable places, especially in the middle of the city, are very difficult to find. I hope this one is a huge success!
sounds like a great effort!
Great idea!
It's a terrific thing to see this building put to such good use. It will, I'm sure, provide benefits for the community for years to come!
Now that is just brilliant!
Great use of a classic building!
~Lindy
I can't think of a better use for an old school building. There is one in our town which has been converted to offices on the first floor and apartments on the other floors, not bad, but your photo shows a better use.
Great initiative.
A very worthwhile use of the building, then.
It's exciting to know there are developers out there who do good work like this. We have so many schools in Hamilton closing - maybe these people could venture west?!
Good use for that beautiful building.
Space in such a beautiful building should not be wasted. A great idea.
worthy undertaking. like their simple signage too.
frankly my dear
The building is certainly one of the old type of schools that were around when I was a kid. It's not often that they build them 3 stories high any more.
what a wonderful place this is!
It is gratifying to read that this old school building has been repurposed into a community art facility. Toronto seems to place high importance on art. Good for Toronto!
A worthwhile investment!!!
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