CCST's 2025 Annual Report is Live!

Letter from the Chair of the Board

The past year has been more momentous for the Community & Cultural Spaces Trust than any of us could have imagined. 

In February we secured our first properties - marking the first acquisition by a cultural land trust in Canada. While this is a significant achievement for our organization and the land trust movement in this country and beyond, it is an equally important win for the arts and culture community which continues to lose space and affordable work environments at an alarming rate.

At the same time, our dedicated volunteer working Board has made significant progress on a number of organizational goals. We created our first Strategic Plan, continued our Space Needs Assessment, completed a second round of recruitment to fill our Board, completed full financial audits, and participated in numerous capacity-building and network-growing events. We participated in the publication of four widely-read articles on the need for affordable arts and culture space in our neighbourhoods, and shared our work and model with other land trusts by appearing on several industry panels.

As we look ahead, we are incredibly excited to begin another property search with our original settlement funds while celebrating the tremendous progress we have made. I sincerely look forward to completing this work with my Board colleagues and remain deeply grateful for the continued support we receive from our peers, partners, and the community we serve.

Sincerely,

Hannah Fleisher

Chair of the Board of Directors

Community & Cultural Spaces Trust

Read our full Annual Report here

Call for Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) Advisory Committee Members

CCST is seeking applications for 12 volunteer advisory committee member positions. The Advisory Committee will meet quarterly (with additional meetings convened as needed), and terms are two (2) years. All meetings will be virtual and we welcome applications from beyond Toronto. 

Purpose and Role of the Advisory Committee

The Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) Advisory Committee serves as a strategic body that provides expert guidance and insights to support CCST’s mission. This committee is crucial in advising on the organization’s core projects, including property acquisitions, community engagement, financial sustainability, and governance. The committee will consist of diverse perspectives to effectively inform decision-making processes.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Guiding Acquisition Strategy: Provide expertise in real estate acquisitions, asset management, and fundraising strategies. 

• Community Needs Assessment: Assess and advise on evolving needs for cultural and community spaces in Ward 9. 

• Governance and Policy Advice: Offer input on legal structures, non-profit governance, and community land trust best practices.

• Financial Support: Identify and assist in providing funding strategies to support CCST’s operations.

Workshop Structure

Each Advisory Committee meeting will focus on a specific problem or challenge identified by the CCST Board of Directors. This may be a current challenge or one that is anticipated. The goal is to leverage the expertise and diverse perspectives of the Advisory Committee to generate practical and actionable solutions. Meetings will take the form of virtual workshops and will be facilitated by CCST board members.

Composition of Advisory Committee

Prospective members should identify with at least one of the following categories. In your application, please note how your skills and experience suit the criteria. 

Note: a through-line of each category is the skillset of an active listener and engaged, accountable, and compassionate participant. Collaboration and supportive decision making will be key to the success of the group. 

A. Mission-Driven Enthusiasts 

• Individuals who are deeply committed to CCST’s mission of preserving affordable cultural spaces.

• Representatives with strong ties to relevant community organizations and advocacy groups.

• Individuals with extensive knowledge of land trusts

• People with a passion for values-driven decision-making and long-term organizational sustainability.

B. Community & Cultural Sector Advocates

• Artists and arts workers, particularly those from equity-deserving communities such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities.

• Leaders of community and cultural organizations operating in or connected to Ward 9 in Toronto

• Leaders  from equity-seeking groups, grassroots organizations or service organizations in Toronto.

•  Cultural activists based in Toronto or similar (large, transnational) cities facing affordability issues.

• Youth representative (under 30) to ensure generational perspectives in decision-making.

• Elders / long-standing community members to provide intergenerational wisdom.

  
  

C. Strategic Thinkers

• Strategic foresight and futures thinking experts.

• Economic development professionals with expertise in sustainable business models for cultural spaces.

• Social equity and anti-racism specialists.

  
  

D. Real Estate, Finance & Legal Experts 

• Real estate professionals with expertise in commercial and cultural space development.

• Affordable housing and community land trust advocates.

• Financial experts with experience in fundraising, grants, and social finance.

• Legal professionals specializing in non-profit real estate, leasing, and governance.

  
  

E. Community Engagement & Social Innovation Specialists

• Community organizers and grassroots leaders focused on public engagement, particularly members of equity-deserving communities such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities.

• Social innovation and participatory decision-making specialists.

• Communications and digital media professionals.

  
  

To apply, please fill out this form by June 30, 2025. If you have questions about the process or need more information, please email board@communityculturalspacestrust.ca. 

CCST Partners with Inspirit Foundation and City of Toronto to Secure Canada's First Cultural Space for a Land Trust

Dear Community Members,

On behalf of the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) Board of Directors, I am

excited to announce a new partnership that has successfully preserved two artist production

spaces in Toronto, bringing hope and optimism to our local arts community.

Artists need places to be creative and make art.

Board site visit, January 2025

In early January, with support from the City of Toronto, the Inspirit Foundation purchased two tenanted units in the Youngplace building located at 180 Shaw Street. Inspirit is transferring these units to the Community & Cultural Spaces Trust for community use. This purchase marks the first community space acquisition by a cultural land trust in Canada. This is huge. This partnership represents a genuine community-led initiative to combat displacement caused by the affordability crisis within Toronto's arts and culture sector. Artscape handed over the units to a receiver after declaring bankruptcy in 2023. Inspirit, as owners in Youngplace themselves, worked for over a year to help all tenants stay in place by assisting them in applying for grants and securing other funding sources to purchase their units from the receiver. Two units, tenanted by Paperhouse Studios and the Toronto Potters' Guild for many years, remained available. Inspirit has helped CCST to acquire these properties, ensuring tenants can continue to occupy them at affordable rent rates. The City of Toronto has made a generous deposit toward the acquisition, provided CCST agrees to maintain affordability for arts organizations in these units.

This exciting opportunity brought together the right stakeholders at the right time. CCST's efforts over the past two years—developing our board, building relationships, developing our governance, and establishing a strategic direction—enabled us to seize this opportunity. It's important to note that CCST's original asset, secured by community members as a Section 37 settlement from the Bloor and Dufferin condo development, was not utilized for this acquisition as 180 Shaw St. is outside Ward 9. Instead, CCST will use rental income from the units to cover the mortgage and any associated fees. We are honoured that Inspirit has entrusted CCST with the stewardship of these properties. We are also grateful for Inspirit's willingness to structure the deal to maintain the units' affordability. The purchase of these properties ensures that the Youngplace building remains a vibrant downtown space for the arts. 

This huge achievement would not have been possible without the strong support of residents and community organizations in Ward 9 and across Toronto.

We are excited about what is in store for CCST in the coming year. We expect to receive our full settlement in November 2025 and will begin searching for properties in Ward 9. In the meantime, we are gathering insights to guide our actions. If you have not yet completed our Community Needs Assessment Survey, please do so and share it with any local arts and community organizations you know.

Yours sincerely,

Hannah Fleisher

Chair

Community and Cultural Spaces Trust Board of Directors

Media Release - Purchase of Youngplace Units Feb 2025.pdf

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