222

No. All units are work-only rental units for office or administrative use, or artist studios and arts production use.

221A defines an Artist as someone who has developed skills through training (not necessarily in an academic institution) or practice in any creative discipline, is recognized by Artists working in the same artistic practice, has a history of public presentation or publication, seeks payment for their work, and actively practices their art. This can include—but is not limited to—:

• Someone who works or is skilled in any of the fine arts, including but not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, literary, calligraphy, printmaking and mixed-media.
• Someone who creates imaginative works, including but not limited to literature, poetry, photography, music composition, choreography, architecture, video game designers, film and video.
• Someone who creates functional art, including but not limited to jewellery, rugs, decorative screens, lighting, furniture, pottery.
• A performer, including but not limited to, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, performance artists.
• Someone who practices culturally-specific forms of art or craft, including but not limited to Indigenous language, weaving, carving, knowledge transmission through storytelling.
• Someone who organizes cultural activities including cultural workers and curators.
• Someone involved in culturally significant practices, including culture bearer or practitioner, designer, technician, tattoo artist, hairdresser, chef/culinary artist, craftsperson, cultural workers dedicated to using their expertise within the community to support, promote, present, and/or teach and propagate their art form through events, activities, performance and classes.

221A defines a “Non-Profit Cultural Organization” as an incorporated or unincorporated organization that includes as its primary objectives the non-profit creation and/or presentation of artistic or cultural practices or educational activities associated with the creation or presentation of artistic or cultural practices. 

Tenants are selected through an open process based on the eligibility guidelines of the premises. Where there are multiple eligible parties, submissions will be ranked by staff or a selection committee based on:

• Alignment with 221A vision and values
• Quality of artistic practice and impact on career, and 
• Impact on field and community. 

Priority is given to people who are from communities that are historically excluded from access to cultural spaces, which may include:

• Black people or people of African descent
• Deaf and hard of hearing people
• Disabled people or people who live with mental health challenges
• Low-income people
• LGBTQ2+ and gender diverse people
• Host nations Indigenous people (Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-waututh people)
• Indigenous peoples (of Canada)
• Indigenous peoples (outside of Canada)
• Racialized people
• Refugees, newcomers, and undocumented people
• Seniors
• Women and girls
• Youth

Additional information may be requested by the staff to support ranking of the applications. 

Prospective tenants can indicate their preferences and space needs through the inquiry form to help us suggest which units fit your needs. We will then arrange tours for you to view unit(s). If there are competing submissions for a unit, 221A will use the selection and ranking criteria above to determine the order of lease offers.

Leases longer than 1 year will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Leases longer than 3-years will require additional approval from 221A's the Board of Directors.

The rental rates cover the majority of costs for the function of the facility, such as day-to-day and planned long-term maintenance and proportional common area costs. This includes: BC hydro, Fortis gas, water and sewage, shared Telus PureFiber internet, headlease rent, property taxes, waste/recycling, cleaning services (common areas), interior and exterior building maintenance, fire system and emergency generator, tenancy arrangements, and administration. It also includes access to the shared meeting room.

Tenants are also responsible for insurance and expenses related to tenants own practice/operations, cleanliness, supplies and furnishings. Tenants will be required to carry Commercial General Liability Insurance. CGL insurance provides basic coverage for businesses and can cost upwards of $1,500 per annum. 221A anticipates having in place an insurance certificate that can be purchased at a lower rate. In the past, 221A has been able to provide these certificates for approximately $300 per year per studio. If tenants require additional storage outside of their unit, storage units are also available for rent on a monthly basis. 

The rental rates are set by 221A on a cost-recovery basis, where rates are expected to cover minimum operating costs of the premises, which includes all modern building operations from insurance, licensing, utility costs, cleaning, and waste management, to elevator, HVAC, and backup generator maintenance, and also includes a maintenance reserve for long-term capital replacement of building systems. Rental rates are cross-checked against affordability data and in consideration of unit quality compared to other non-market facilities within the city. 

Tenants enter into a Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement with 221A, which withdraws monthly rent payments directly from Subtenants’ bank accounts.

221A has an Emergency Assistance Fund used to support tenants facing financial hardship. Tenants must meet certain requirements such as emergency health or financial hardship to be able to receive rental assistance from the Emergency Assistance Fund.

The building is accessible 24/7 by key.

Yes. Tenants may have guests. Tenants are responsible for their guests, especially considering any activity in shared Common Areas and spaces outside of their unit.

222 E Georgia accommodates many different kinds of practices. During the tenant screening process we will inquire with the applicant what materials are involved in the making of their practice, especially concerning scent and noise levels pertaining to tool use and general foot traffic within the space. 221A provides the applicant with a Hazardous Materials Policy Manual as part of the on-boarding process, to declare any potential toxic materials used in their practice so that we can make recommendations for proper disposal and safety measures.

Any permanent or potentially permanent alteration, including, but not limited to, architectural or structural installations, electrical alterations, plumbing alterations and heavy equipment installation require approval from 221A. All subleases have an alteration clause that should be reviewed by subtenants.

Tenants are not allowed to sublease their units without express approval from 221A. All subleases have a subletting clause that should be reviewed by tenants.

There is no bike lockers or tenant parking available in the building. Street parking in Chinatown is available as well as monthly parking at parkades within walking distance. Public bike racks are located on Georgia Street. Tenants may store bikes within their unit but are not allowed to park bikes in hallways and common areas.

There is no loading bay at 222 E Georgia St.

There is no owner of 221A. 221A is a non-profit society incorporated under the BC Societies Act. Like most non-profits, 221A is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operations are managed by a qualified staff.

Significant changes to the building are approved by the 221A Board of Directors and the building landlord, in consultation with building occupants and stakeholders. 

221A is a non-profit organization and sets rental rates on a cost recovery basis. Revenues generated from the facility cover the costs to operate the facility and are not used to cross-subsidize operations outside of the facility.