Our Compass – The Passion, Values and Principles that Guide Us

Artscape’s “compass” provides the underpinning of our organizational culture and the framework for our decision-making. It motivates and unites us and is the reason others look to Artscape for leadership, inspiration, service, learning, employment and volunteer opportunities. Our compass is the soul of Artscape.

1. Igniting passion for arts, culture and creativity

CREATIVE PEOPLE
Artscape believes that artists, culture-makers and creative entrepreneurs make invaluable contributions to cultural, economic, environmental and social vitality. We recognize that their value is often under-acknowledged and under-utilized. We believe that the process of unlocking the creative potential of people in a place begins with understanding the talent, resources and relationships at play. We are committed to using this understanding to inform strategies to foster the conditions for creative people and organizations to thrive.

CREATIVE PROCESS
We appreciate that being creative often involves a process of discovery rather than a straight line from A to B. We are mindful of the fact that there are a myriad of factors that squelch the creative process. We encourage creative thinking and collaboration in all that we do.

CREATIVE ECOLOGIES
We appreciate that art, culture and creativity grow and thrive when they are nurtured by a supportive ecology. We understand that creative ecologies are complex and dynamic amalgams of people, networks, support systems, places and attitudes. We understand the conditions for success of creative ecologies and we work proactively and strategically to put them in place.

CREATIVE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
We are motivated to make cities and communities hotbeds of creativity. We believe that every community we work in has unique heritage, attributes, resources and potential. We are committed to building the authenticity, vibrancy, resilience and inclusiveness of the communities we work in.

2. Being the best organization we can be for the world

DIVERSITY
Artscape believes that cultural and other forms of diversity add dynamism and energy to the creative process. We are committed to fostering and promoting diversity in all of our work. We work proactively to welcome diversity into our board and staff teams, our creative communities and programs and services.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
We respect the environment and seek to observe and promote environmental best practice in all that we do. From recycling, reusing and reducing our waste to developing new buildings that reduce our ecological footprint, we strive to set an example for others on how to be good stewards of the environment.

SUSTAINABILITY
We measure the success of our organization and its work against its sustainability. We appreciate that to contribute to sustainability in a meaningful way; our work needs to have positive impact culturally, economically, socially, and environmentally.

LEARNING
We embrace learning as a fundamental building block of our organizational culture. We look for learning opportunities in all aspects of our work. By sharing and exchanging knowledge and best practice, we are committed to growing a community of practice around culture-led regeneration.

INCLUSIVENESS
We strive to create an inclusive environment where all stakeholders including tenants, clients, staff, board of directors and volunteers – regardless of age, religion, colour, family status, gender identity, place of origin, race, sexual orientation or any other personal characteristics – are appreciated and treated with respect and dignity.

3. Earning the trust and respect of our stakeholders

TENANTS
Artscape strives to be the best of all possible landlords. We are committed to building relationships based on mutual respect with and between tenants. We are committed to developing environments that are highly conducive to creativity, collaboration and exchange. It is part of our raison d’être to engage tenants in the process of culture-led regeneration.

CLIENTS AND DELEGATES
We go to extraordinary lengths to satisfy our clients. We serve our clients and delegates competently, professionally, efficiently and creatively.

PARTNERS
We believe that well-managed partnerships are critically important in building our capacity. We are committed to defining and managing partnerships in a way that all parties are clear about the purpose and benefits that will accrue to them and others.

COMMUNITIES
We see city-building as a great, sometimes messy, but always rewarding endeavour that is most successful when it engages a broad and diverse group of people and organizations. We believe that the essence of our space and placemaking work is about community building. We understand who our various stakeholders are for our work and are committed to engage them in the development process in a meaningful way.

FUNDERS AND DONORS
We recognize that Artscape’s work could not happen without the generosity of funders and donors. We are committed to ensuring that all contributions are used in accordance with donors’ intentions and properly stewarded with timely reporting. Artscape observes strict adherence to the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy’s Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code.

4. Making a strong commitment to organizational health

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
Artscape believes that as a not-for-profit organization, we can match the drive for enterprise, innovation and wealth generation of the best private sector companies. We recognize that being entrepreneurial, innovative and creative involves taking calculated risks. Our entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in our approach to real estate development, research and consulting, as well as in program and service delivery. Wealth that is generated through our work is reinvested in our Mission.

GOOD GOVERNANCE
We are committed to building a strong sense of common purpose around Artscape’s Vision, Mission, Mandate and Compass. We strive for a dynamic balance of roles and responsibilities among Artscape’s staff, board of directors and volunteers. We regularly draft, revise, approve and observe organizational policies and keep accurate corporate records.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY
We act with integrity and work to engender trust among all of our stakeholders. We are committed to conducting our business with the highest professional and ethical standards and honouring the privacy rights of our stakeholders. We pledge to be accountable to funders and donors who entrust their resources to us.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are dedicated to the principle of fiscal responsibility. We are committed to responsible financial planning, spending within our means and generating annual operating surpluses that can be reinvested in our Mission.

5. Maximizing the creativity of our boards, staff and volunteers

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE
Artscape believes that a creative workplace is one that understands that each team member brings a unique perspective and skill set to the table. We actively encourage a healthy balance between the professional and personal lives of employees. We encourage clear, considerate and respectful communication in the workplace. We recognize the accomplishments of staff members and feel duty-bound to provide a timely response when they voice a concern. We welcome a sense of experimentation and fun into our workplace because we feel it fuels a healthier, happier, creative and productive work environment.

TEAMWORK
We believe that we are most powerful and effective when board, staff and other stakeholders are pulling in the same direction. We value teamwork as a way of fostering collaboration and creativity. We are committed to providing team leadership opportunities to staff as a way to maximize their creativity and personal fulfillment.

GROWTH AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
We believe that growing knowledge and expertise are not only central to our Vision, Mission and Mandate, but are the drivers of growth and change at Artscape. We are committed to investing time and resources in this area as well as in the professional development of our team and each and every staff member.

SELF RESPONSIBILITY
As Artscape team members, we take responsibility for our own success and failures. We celebrate successes and see failures as opportunities for growth. We recognize that we are responsible for our own happiness and success as well as for the health of the organization and the planet.