From Pilot to Practice: Implementing Shared Access to the Cultural Amenity Space

Following a multi-year pilot in collaboration with C-Space, the shared multi-purpose space is undergoing transformation to meet the needs of residential artist Tenants in the 30 units above. The upcoming launch also marks the expansion of long-time organizational Tenant Ethọ́s Lab from the mezzanine into the full 2,700 ft² space. Some upgrades include a performance area, production space, sound booth, and venue for artists to gather and bring in community organizations.

“We’ve reached over 1,500 kids and teenagers through inclusive STEAM programming and hands-on, community-based learning in the past year alone,” says Founder & Executive Director of Ethos Lab, Anthonia Ogundele. “With a bigger space and the support of more sponsors, we’ll be able to empower even more youth and help shape the next generation of innovators.”

Led by 221A Head of Cultural Spaces R&D, Carmut Me, the pilot ran from 2021 to 2025 and engaged Tenants through a survey, workshops, and led to the creation of a Shared Space Advisory Committee to determine shared-use needs for the production space. Tenants expressed key values of a space that could:

• foster experimentation, collaboration, and creativity;
• remain flexible and adaptive to Tenants’ needs;
• enable users to share resources;
• cultivate an environment of mutual respect and prioritizes access for historically marginalized community members; and
• support community gatherings, events, and showcases, as well as collaborations with Ethọ́s Lab.

“I feel confident in our commitment going forward to centring Tenant needs,” says Managing Director of C-Space, Rachael Prince. “I’d argue this phase is the most important: where we uphold a transparency that ensures future decisions around access, operations, and capital improvements are informed directly by the artists and communities using the space.”

As part of Ethọ́s Lab’s role in upholding access and shared-use, the organization will be bringing in two critical community partners, Hogan’s Alley Society and UBC Geering Up. 

“Ethọ́s Lab proves to be a value-aligned collaborator who has Tenants’ interest at heart,” says 221A Co-Founder, Michelle Fu. “As community partners, we have the opportunity to weave interdisciplinary and intergenerational relationships in ways that will strengthen the ecosystem for years to come.”