(Photo: Nancy Shoiry, executive director of the SHDM and Gilles Renaud, executive director of Ateliers créatifs Montréal)

Ateliers créatifs Montréal and the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) are pleased to announce that an agreement has been signed to purchase a vacant building—located in the Borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve that will be rehabilitated and converted into studios for artists and crafts workers. This creative centre will specialize in visual arts and will house members of Atelier Graff,in particular.

On September 30, the SHDM acquired a building at 3890-3910 Sainte-Catherine Est as a temporary holding and made a commitment to resell it to Ateliers créatifs Montréal within the next ten years at the acquisition price and costs. The reconversion of the building will make it possible to offer professional artists and crafts workers customized work premises that are affordable and protected from real estate speculation.

"Through all the collaborative efforts surrounding this new project by Ateliers créatifs Montréal as well as public support, we will be able to meet the need for art creation premises, with a structuring project that furthers the development of Montréal as a cultural metropolis. We applaud the role of the SHDM, which is acting as a facilitator by securing the purchase of the building, thereby contributing toward the funding synergy developed with Ville de Montréal and the Québec government in order to make the project feasible and viable," stated Marcel Choquette, Chairman of the Board of Ateliers créatifs Montréal.

"This project of providing studios for artists is a wonderful example of what we can succeed in doing when we join forces to create genuine economic and cultural development leveraging," pointed out Nancy Shoiry, Executive Director of the SHDM. "Purchasing a property with a deferred sale guarantee is an innovative approach that makes the most of the SHDM's expertise in responsible real estate. It ensures the financial viability and sustainability of an artistic project that is perfectly in line with Montréal's vision as a cultural metropolis, while contributing toward the development of a sector of the city that is rapidly being revitalized." 

Artist Mathieu Jacques, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atelier Graff, added: "With this centre being set up in the Borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a sector of the city that is well known for the vitality of its community organizations, its solidarity and its sense of living together, a new chapter is beginning for us. After 50 years in Plateau Mont-Royal, Atelier Graff is proud to settle into a dynamic environment where its sustainability is guaranteed and to pursue work where prints contribute toward building bridges between creators, community stakeholders and residents. Rallying institutions around the project, such as the SHDM, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and Ville de Montréal, is an expression of confidence and trust as well as a vital driving force behind maintaining the activities of Atelier Graff and its presence within the cultural landscape of Montreal and Québec as a whole."

Project figures

The SHDM purchased the building on September 30, 2015 and signed an agreement of transfer within a maximum period of ten years, at the acquisition price and costs, for a total of approximately $2,174,000. By freezing the funds required to purchase the building and by guaranteeing Ateliers créatifs Montréal a fixed selling price, the SHDM is making it possible to immediately carry out the project and is ensuring sustainability, by protecting the project from the risks of real estate speculation. This 10-year period will also give the organization the time to raise the capital needed to purchase the building, while limiting financing costs.

Moreover, the project is benefiting from the support of a number of public parties: Ateliers créatifs Montréal is receiving funding of $1.34 million from the artists' studios fund (planned within the Montréal 2025 agreement between Ville de Montréal and the Québec government) to carry out the groundwork as well as certain leasehold improvements for the artists' studios. Atelier Graff is receiving financial assistance of $415,914 from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications within the agreement between the city and the Ministère concerning artists' studios in order to finance facilities adapted to its specific needs.

About Ateliers créatifs Montréal – www.atelierscreatifs.org

Ateliers créatifs Montréal is a non-profit, real estate developer established in 2007 whose mandate is to ensure the sustainability of appropriate, safe, affordable work premises for artists, crafts workers and cultural organizations. ACM manages nearly 300,000 square feet of studio work spaces on Montréal territory as owner, main tenant or manager and meets needs for creative spaces for over 650 artists and crafts workers.

About Atelier Graff – www.graff.ca/atelier

Established in 1966, Atelier Graff is a contemporary art centre devoted to printmaking research and creation. In addition to providing its members with access to specialized expertise and facilities (silk screen printing, etching, woodcut printing, lithography, digital printing), Atelier Graff offers artists from all circles, residency and training programs promoting the professionalization of their practices. The centre's annual membership includes over 70 active members, a number of whom regularly exhibit their work in Québec, elsewhere in Canada and outside the country.

About the SHDM – www.shdm.org

The SHDM is a non-profit, paramunicipal corporation that is financially independent, meaning that it operates without any grants or funding from Ville de Montréal. With its expertise in responsible real estate, it contributes toward Montréal's economic and social development by promoting real estate assets of a residential, institutional, industrial, commercial and cultural nature on its territory. The SHDM is a preferred partner of Ville de Montréal in implementing its policies and reaching its objectives.