Launching the CCST Space Needs Assessment

Community groups and arts organizations, we need your help! This year, the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) is launching a survey to deepen our knowledge of the space challenges and needs that arts, community, and cultural organizations in Toronto face. The survey questions are focused on how your organization(s) has operated in your spaces, any space needs your organizations may have, and your outlook on CCST’s role in providing support. We hope that by completing the survey to the best of your ability, you will help us build long-term plans for community cultural space preservation. 

Fill in the survey now

The responses collected will only be seen by members of the CCST board and our volunteer-led student team from the University of Toronto who helped design this survey. Any findings presented in relevant settings will be de-identified, and your identities will be kept anonymous. We kindly ask for your support in completing the survey and our ongoing efforts as we fight to protect our community. We hope to continue engaging with the Ward 9 arts and cultural community as we develop and secure spaces.

We estimate that this survey will take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the level of detail you choose in the open-ended questions. While the survey will remain open beyond this date, we would appreciate it if you could fill out this survey if possible by February 20, 2025. If there are other organizations you think would like to participate in this survey, feel free to forward this to them.

Thank you for your participation. Please contact the us if you have any questions regarding CCST or the survey at board@communityculturalspacestrust.ca

2024 Call for Board & Steering Committee Members

October 3 2024

Two years into our development, the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) is seeking new Board Directors and another cohort of Steering Committee Members to support our operations in a critical moment of our development. The working Board plays a key role in determining the future of the trust and will also serve as CCST’s core group of volunteers, driving the Trust’s daily operations. The Steering Committee provides support to the Board in decision making and developing strategic directions for the Trust.

ABOUT US

The Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) is a land trust dedicated to the long-term preservation of affordable space and land for arts, culture and community activities in Ward 9 (Davenport), Toronto. Building on the successes of the community land trust movement and other community ownership models, our goal is to mitigate the current displacement of arts and community organizations from Davenport and from Toronto more broadly. 

CCST exists as a result of years of community organizing for equitable and inclusive development in the area. The initial funds that the trust holds were secured through a historic community benefits settlement with the developers of the public school lands at the southwest corner of Bloor Street and Dufferin Street. The financial settlement was promised in installments; the full funds will be made available to CCST by November 2025. 

Until the full asset is received, CCST’s current Board is laying the groundwork for the Trust to thrive. We have developed relationships and networks, researched models and opportunities, invested the trust’s initial assets, established administrative policies and systems, evaluated acquisition opportunities, and initiated a community needs assessment. CCST is now in a position to grow significantly under the strategic leadership of a diverse and representative board. 

BOARD & COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT

We are looking for applications from people who are energetic, active listeners and good collaborators. The ideal applicant should be excited to grapple with complex decision-making in an imperfect context. 

Our goal is to develop a board whose actions will be guided by our founding principles, ongoing community input, lived experiences relevant to CCST’s mandate and cross-sector professional expertise. The cultural land trust and social purpose real estate movements are gaining exciting momentum but preserving affordable space for community and arts uses in Toronto’s current real estate market will be challenging! We are looking for individuals who are up for working in a dynamic team to take on that challenge. Previous board experience is not required for these positions. All board and committee positions are strictly volunteer.

Candidates for the Board of Directors will be onboarded on a trial basis for 6-12 months, with the goal to vote in a full Board of Directors in assigned roles on an ongoing basis by November 2025. New Steering Committee members will be brought on immediately and asked to support ongoing Committee work within 2-3 months of onboarding.

Open Positions

Board of Directors (2 year term):

• Treasurer to oversee all aspects of the organization’s finances.

• Operations & Property Management Lead to advise on business plans and revenue/cash flow management for space operations for commercial real estate and/or cultural spaces.

• Real Estate Acquisition Lead to advise on investment decisions and business cases for commercial real estate.

• General Board Member to join at least one committee and assist with community governance requirements.

Monthly commitment: 1 board meeting, 1 committee meeting, some asynchronous work; approximately 5-15 hours

Steering Committee Members (1 or 2 year term):

We are also recruiting for Steering Committee Members. Interested parties can apply to join as Steering Committee Members on a one-year term, after which time they can decide to apply for Board Directorship if available or remain as a Steering Committee Member. Steering Committee Members will support both specific board functions (financial, communications, legal), general (research, correspondence, collaborative decision-making), and lead special projects (advocacy, community mobilization, other priorities identified by both the Board and Steering Committee). 

Monthly commitment: 1 board meeting, some asynchronous work; approximately 5 hours

Eligibility

CCST’s Board must maintain a majority of members from Ward 9, however, we welcome applications from people outside this community. This year we are prioritizing applicants with expertise in:

• Organizational development;

• Community mobilization and network development;

• Community-based governance;

• Communications and advocacy;

• Real estate law, finance, and transactions;

• Real estate operations and due diligence;

• Asset management and fundraising;

We also particularly encourage you to apply if you identify as: 

• An artist/arts worker who is a member of at least one equity-deserving group; 

• A person with lived experience of displacement from a studio, rehearsal or community space; 

• A youth (under age 30); 

• A person who works, leads or regularly volunteers at a community-based or equity-focused organization. 

Board composition will be carefully considered when reviewing applications.

To Apply

Please review our Terms of Reference for Volunteers & Members to learn more about Board and volunteer responsibilities and upcoming work. Express your interest to join CCST’s Board or Steering Committee via this form. Direct questions to  board@communityculturalspacestrust.ca

CCST thanks you for sharing this widely with your networks! We will be accepting expressions of interest until 5 pm on Monday, October 21 2024. We will be in touch with selected applicants on a rolling basis and will request a CV and cover letter, and interview.

We hope to begin onboarding successful candidates in November 2024.

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,

Community and Cultural Spaces Trust Board

Click here to download the copy of this call

Join Our Board

CCST Call for New Board Members

May 2023

One year after incorporating, and in a moment of foundational growth, the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) is seeking its first full Board of Directors. This working board will play a key role in determining the future of the trust and will also serve as CCST’s core group of volunteers, driving the trust’s daily operations.

CCST is a new land trust dedicated to the long-term preservation of affordable space and land for arts, culture and community activities in Ward 9 (Davenport), Toronto. Building on the successes of the community land trust movement and other community ownership models, our goal is to mitigate the current displacement of arts and community organizations from Davenport, and from Toronto more broadly.

CCST exists as a result of years of community organizing for equitable and inclusive development in the area. The initial funds that the trust holds were secured through a historic community benefits settlement with the developers of the public school lands at the southwest corner of Bloor Street and Dufferin Street. More information about CCST’s mandate, founding principles and history can be found in our Terms of Reference for New Board Members and in our Story.

CCST’s founding board has spent the past year laying the groundwork for the trust to thrive. We have developed relationships and networks, researched models and opportunities, invested the trust’s initial assets and established administrative policies and systems. CCST is now in a position to grow significantly under the strategic leadership of a diverse and representative board.

We are looking for applications from people who are energetic, active listeners and good collaborators. The ideal applicant should be excited to grapple with complex decision-making in an imperfect context.

Our goal is to develop a board whose actions will be guided by our founding principles, ongoing community input, lived experiences relevant to CCST’s mandate and cross-sector professional expertise. The cultural land trust and social purpose real estate movements are gaining exciting momentum but preserving affordable space for community and arts uses in Toronto’s current real estate market will be challenging! We are looking for board members who are up for working in a dynamic team to take on that challenge. Previous board experience is not required for these positions. All board positions are strictly volunteer.

CCST’s board will maintain a majority of Ward 9 community members but we welcome applications from people who are not based in Ward 9. We will prioritize applicants with expertise in:

• Organizational development;

• Community-based governance;

• Asset management;

• Research;

• Legal knowledge;

• Fundraising;

• Social media content and digital outreach.

We also particularly encourage you to apply if you identify as:

• An artist/arts worker who is a member of at least one equity-deserving group;

• A person with lived experience of displacement from a studio, rehearsal or community space;

• A youth (under age 30);

• A person who works, leads or regularly volunteers at a community-based or equity-focused organization.

Board composition will be carefully considered when reviewing applications.

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity, please express your interest to join CCST’s board via this form.

Further information about this opportunity can be found in CCST’s Terms of Reference for New Board Members. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out via email to board@communityculturalspacestrust.ca

CCST thanks you for sharing this widely with your networks! We will be accepting expressions of interest until 5 pm on Friday, June 16th. We will be in touch with selected applicants on an ongoing basis beginning in July. We may request follow up materials such as a CV and cover letter, and/or an interview. We hope to begin onboarding new board members starting in Fall 2023.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Community and Cultural Spaces Trust Founding Board

Download a PDF copy of this call here