Many people have questions about this initiative. We have put together this list of evolving Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to help keep the dialogue moving. Please use the feedback form at the bottom to suggest new questions!
Question List
- What is the problem the group is trying to solve?
- What is the current project?
- Who is leading the project?
- Who will use the new spaces?
- How does this benefit the public?
- How is the space accessible, safe, and secure?
- How does the project support equity and inclusion?
- What about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
- How does this project support climate action?
- Why was this location chosen?
- What is the total cost for the renovation project?
- What is the plan for funding?
- What is the timing and phasing for renovations?
- When will you move in?
- Who else is involved in the project?
- Who else supports this project besides the arts community?
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the problem the group is trying to solve?
Arts and culture organizations in Victoria face a long-standing, structural challenge: the lack of affordable, stable, accessible, and appropriate space to do their work.
Many artists and organizations are currently working out of living rooms, bedrooms, garages, temporary spaces, or short-term leases that can end with little notice. This instability limits public access to arts and culture, reduces income opportunities for artists, and makes it difficult for organizations to plan, collaborate, or grow.
The group is working to solve this problem at a systems level — by creating shared, long-term cultural infrastructure that stabilizes the sector and benefits the entire community.
2. What is the current project?
The current project is the renovation of two floors at 722 Johnson Street to create a permanent, shared arts and culture facility in downtown Victoria.
This phase focuses on the physical space: public galleries, artist studios, classrooms, offices for non-profit arts organizations, and community gathering areas. It is one part of a broader, long-term strategy that will also include future projects such as creating a cultural land trust, developing shared staffing capacity, and securing sustainable funding for operations and human resources.
This renovation lays the foundation for everything that comes next.
3. Who is leading the project?
The project is led by the Victoria Arts Sustainability Coalition (VASC) — a group of artist-run centres and non-profit arts organizations, most of them long-standing registered charities.
Coalition members include:
- Xchanges Gallery and Studios (founded 1967)
One of Canada’s longest-running artist-run centres, providing affordable studios, exhibitions, life drawing sessions, and community programming for over five decades. - Victoria Arts Council (founded 1968)
A city-wide arts service organization delivering public exhibitions, artist services, professional development, and arts advocacy. - Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA) (founded 2000)
A non-profit art school offering post-secondary arts education, residencies, workshops, and public exhibitions, located directly across the street from the project site. - Flux Media Gallery / MediaNet (founded 1984)
A media arts organization supporting digital creation, screenings, production, and artist residencies. - Errant Art Space (founded 2017)
An artist-led collective focused on contemporary exhibitions, studios, and experimental programming.
Together, these organizations represent more than 100 years of combined service to Victoria’s arts community.
4. Who will use the new spaces?
The new spaces will be active, working environments used daily by artists, organizations, and the public.
Examples include:
- Xchanges studio artists working in painting, printmaking, photography, and media arts, and running regular life drawing sessions
- Victoria Arts Council operating a main public gallery and hosting talks, workshops, and community events
- Vancouver Island School of Art running artist-in-residence programs, student exhibitions, and public classes
- Flux Media Gallery hosting screenings, media arts workshops, and digital production
- Errant Art Space providing studios and exhibitions for professional artists
- Suddenly Dance Theatre supporting dancers, choreographers, designers, and media artists
- Community members attending exhibitions, workshops, Francophone Society gatherings and performances, meetings, and talks
On any given day, someone might attend a class, see an exhibition, participate in a community gathering, or buy locally made gifts for themselves or others from the shop.
5. How does this benefit the public?
This project delivers cultural, social, and economic benefits well beyond the arts community.
Public access increases significantly:
- Exhibition access grows by up to 300%
- Public hours increase from roughly 30 hours per month to over 100
- Gallery space expands substantially
- The building is projected to welcome up to 200 visitors per day
The project also generates socio-economic benefits:
- Creation of new arts and culture sector jobs
- Increased paid opportunities for artists, instructors, technicians, and cultural workers
- Direct income for artists and artisans through exhibitions and the retail shop
- Increased downtown foot traffic supporting nearby businesses
Arts and culture infrastructure contributes to downtown vitality, public safety through positive activity, community well-being, and a stronger local economy.
6. How is the space accessible, safe, and secure?
The building will meet current building codes and modern safety standards, ensuring everyone feels welcome and at ease.
Features include:
- Automated entry doors
- Universal, accessible washrooms
- Elevator access to all public spaces
- Clear wayfinding and well-lit interiors
- Secure, controlled access for artists to studio areas
- Fire-rated windows with automatic shutters to prevent fire spread
- Updated mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems
The design balances openness for the public with security and peace of mind for artists and staff.
7. How does the project support equity and inclusion?
Equity and inclusion are foundational values of the project.
The space is designed to reduce physical, financial, and cultural barriers to participation. This includes prioritizing Indigenous artists and artists from equity-seeking communities, offering subsidized or free studio space, and partnering with organizations serving IBPOC, LGBTQ2S+, disability, youth, and low-income communities.
More broadly, the project is grounded in the belief that arts spaces should reflect the diversity of the people who live here, and that everyone deserves access to creative expression, professional opportunity, and cultural connection.
8. What about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
Reconciliation is understood as an ongoing responsibility rooted in relationship, respect, and accountability.
The project supports reconciliation by creating real opportunities for Indigenous artists to create, exhibit, teach, and be visible; by building partnerships with Indigenous organizations; and by making space for Indigenous voices in governance and advisory roles when desired.
The guiding belief is that reconciliation must be active and lived, not symbolic — and that cultural spaces have a responsibility to support Indigenous leadership, presence, and self-determination.
9. How does this project support climate action?
The project supports climate action through adaptive reuse, shared resources, and sustainable transportation access.
Renovating an existing building preserves embodied carbon and reduces construction waste. The location is on major bus routes, includes a secure bicycle lock-up, and sits in a walkable downtown area that reduces reliance on private vehicles.
Sharing space across multiple organizations also lowers overall energy use and resource duplication over the long term.
10. Why was this location chosen?
The coalition researched many real estate options in Victoria and studied comparable projects across Canada and internationally.
722 Johnson Street stood out because it:
- Is a solid, recently upgraded building suitable for long-term use
- Has excellent downtown visibility and transit access
- Is surrounded by arts and culture neighbours
- Offers strong street-level public engagement
- Has supportive owners willing to work collaboratively
- Can accommodate multiple organizations under one roof
Very few properties meet all of these criteria.
11. What is the total cost for the renovation project?
The total cost of the renovation project is approximately $2.3 million, covering design, permits, construction, accessibility upgrades, safety systems, and full project delivery across both floors.
12. What is the plan for funding?
The funding plan is diversified, thoughtful, and risk-managed, designed to ensure long-term stability.
It includes:
- Government grants (municipal, provincial, and federal)
- Private donors and foundations
- Community Bonds, offering individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations a meaningful way to invest directly in community infrastructure while earning a modest return
- Impact financing aligned with social benefit
- Conservative commercial financing
- Owner contributions
- Operational revenues, with modest surpluses reinvested into improving access, programming, and operations
This layered approach reflects strong governance and experienced leadership.
13. What is the timing and phasing for renovations?
Renovations are planned in clear, coordinated phases.
Design development and permitting are underway, informed by extensive consultation and an Expression of Interest process that engaged nearly 100 individuals and organizations. Construction is planned to proceed once funding is finalized, with sequencing that prioritizes public-facing spaces first, followed closely by studios and offices.
Phasing allows the project to manage risk, control costs, and begin delivering public benefit as soon as possible.
14. When will you move in?
Based on survey data, many artists and organizations indicated they could move immediately or within 6–12 months once the space is ready, while others align their move with existing lease timelines in 2025–2026.
Move-in will be phased, allowing some organizations and programs to begin operating while final spaces are completed. This approach ensures momentum, reduces disruption, and supports a smooth transition for users.
15. Who else is involved in the project?
The project is supported by experienced professionals, including:
- Scale Collaborative, providing financial modelling, governance support, impact finance expertise, and risk management
- Number Ten Architectural Group, leading design and delivery, with deep experience in cultural and public facilities
16. Who else supports this project besides the arts community?
Support for this project is broad and well-documented.
Letters of support come from:
- Downtown residents’ associations
- Local businesses and property owners
- The Downtown Victoria Business Association
- The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Health and social service organizations, including AVI Health and Community Services Society
Community feedback highlights the need and value of the project. One supporter noted that the building would “create stability for artists while bringing much-needed positive activity downtown.” Another emphasized that shared cultural space “strengthens the entire community, not just the arts sector.”
The Expression of Interest survey shows strong demand:
- Nearly 100 respondents
- A majority currently working from home or insecure spaces
- Affordability, accessibility, modern facilities, and transit access identified as top priorities
- High willingness to move into the building once space is available
This level of engagement demonstrates that the project responds to a real, community-identified need.
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