SPRE 101: Understanding Social Purpose Real Estate for Arts Spaces

As important social infrastructure like community art spaces and venues become increasingly difficult to develop across Canada, we need greater capacity in the sector to make more arts-focused social purpose real estate projects possible. By explaining key SPRE concepts - including concept visioning, planning approvals, business and financial modeling, and site acquisition, this webinar will provide arts organizations with the introductory knowledge needed to engage in conversations about SPRE and to start thinking about their own projects.
This module is part of ArtsBuild Ontario's project "Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) for Arts Spaces". SPRE for Arts Spaces is a 3-year project that will provide arts organizations with skills development through training modules, case studies, and a Space Lab program. The project will provide a deepened understanding of and access to launching and managing social purpose real estate, with a focus on small and mid-size cultural organizations.
To learn more, visit artsbuildontario.ca/spre.
About the speakers:
Matti Siemiatycki is the Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the School of Cities, University of Toronto, and Professor in the Department of Geography & Planning. Matti’s work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities. His recent studies explore transit policy decisions, the value for money of public-private partnerships, the development of innovative mixed-use buildings as a form of place based infrastructure policy, and the diversity gap in the infrastructure industry workforce. Matti consults widely on infrastructure policy and is a frequent media commentator on infrastructure and city planning.
The Infrastructure Institute is a training, advisory, and interdisciplinary research hub at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. They seek to build local and global expertise in integrated planning for civil and social infrastructure, decision-making, and project delivery. The Institute seeks to refine collaboration between public, private, and the not-for-profit sectors and become Canada’s hub for infrastructure training and interdisciplinary knowledge.
ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is a provincial arts service organization that provides small and medium-sized organizations with tools, training, and advice to successfully manage physical and digital creative spaces. ABO works to reimagine the future of creative spaces through dedicated research projects and an engaged network of supportive partners.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage.