Artscape has raised $21.4 million in funding – including $14,050,000 in capital funding, $4,450,000 in community bonds, and $2,993,000 in program and start-up funding – to support its art and design entrepreneurship hub Artscape Daniels Launchpad, which is currently under construction as part of the Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts development.
Funding for the $27.3 million capital project has been contributed by the private sector, philanthropists and all three levels of government. The hub was named to recognize the outstanding financial support provided by The Daniels Corporation and the John and Myrna Daniels Foundation, whose leadership gift of $5.75 million includes $625,000 in support from ‘City of the Arts’ development partner WJ Properties.
The purpose of Artscape Daniels Launchpad is to help artists and designers build thriving careers, organizations and businesses. It will be a unique place where artists have access to a multi-disciplinary environment full of tools, equipment and technology, entrepreneurship programs and activities, and a marketplace of services, resources and opportunities.
“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canada’s cultural infrastructure,” said Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina-Fort York, in a press release. “We are making the most of Toronto’s unique assets to strengthen southern Ontario’s creative cluster. Artscape Launchpad will help connect artists and designers from all over southern Ontario to skills training and to the businesses that need their services – all in a state-of-the-art facility.”
Other major capital contributions to the project have been made by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage ($3.5 million), the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science ($3 million) and philanthropists that have each made donations of up to $1 million. Start-up and program funding was announced including contributions from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Media Development Corporation, the City of Toronto through Start Up Here Toronto, the Metcalf Foundation, and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
This support allows Artscape to hire a team for Artscape Daniels Launchpad to help deliver entrepreneurship training to thousands of artists and designers and strengthen connections between creatives and businesses in Southern Ontario.
The Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts community is designed by RAW Design with Rafael + Bigauskas Architects as the Architects of Record. The interior design of Artscape Daniels Launchpad is by Quadrangle.
Artscape Daniels Launchpad is set to open in summer 2018.
