The Cultural Land Trust (CLT) is a non-profit real estate model that approaches land as a relational practice–held in trust, shaped through participation, and governed collectively.

In response to the material conditions of Vancouver’s housing and cultural landscape, the CLT proposes a structure for arts and culture communities to collectively steward space for the long term–by removing properties from the speculative real estate market and extractive ownership models.

Through moderated panels, presentations, and group discussions, this forum gathers community members as an initial step in the long-term development of the Cultural Land Trust. 

Driven by the central question, “How can cultural space be stewarded in ways that are accountable to equity-deserving artists, arts organizations, and communities?” participants will surface community priorities, examine relational models of space use, and translate collective inquiry into governance principles for land stewardship. It is a space for building collective understanding as the foundation for collective responsibility. 

Join us on Friday, October 9 for the Cultural Land Trust as Relational Practice Forum, featuring speakers such as Camille Georgeson-Usher (University of British Columbia, Vancouver Art Gallery), Kamala Todd (Simon Fraser University), and Norm Leech (DTES Community Land Trust, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House).

Programming includes: 

• Traditional Welcome 
• “Land as Relation” Panel 
• “Making Space for Artists” Panel
• “Why Land Trusts?” Co-Presentation
• “Demystifying the Cultural Land Trust” Q&A
• Breakout groups and group discussions 
• Shared lunch 
• Closing reception with refreshment and light fare

Further programming and speaker details will be available upon RSVP. 

Accessibility information for the venue is available below.

This symposium and the Community Land Trust are grounded in the following core values:

1. Reframing property ownership as relational practice, not just private possession, 
2. Reimagining exclusionary and individualistic property ownership to inclusive and collective responsibility, 
3. Foregrounding Indigenous rights, recognition, and reciprocity as inextricable to re-commoning land and buildings for arts and culture uses, while honouring Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty. 
4. Grounding governance in collective and equity-centred voices, particularly communities historically excluded from cultural space–especially low-income, disabled, LGBTQ2IA+, and BIPOC,
5. Prioritizing cultural space access for lived practices and experiences of artists and cultural workers, and
6. Crafting durable cultural infrastructure requires the understanding of shared concerns and values.

Contributors

• Brian McBay, 221A 
• Camille Georgeson-Usher, Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary Indigenous Art, UBC + Audain Senior Curatorial Advisor in Indigenous Art, Vancouver Art Gallery
• Carmut Me, 221A, Head of Cultural Space Programs
• Kamala Todd, Métis-Cree mother, Indigenous planner, filmmaker, and educator
• Kate Wong, SITE Toronto, Curator & Founder
• Meg Shiffler, Director of Artists Spaces Trust (SF)
• Miriam Berndt, 221A, Cultural Space Planner
• Norm Leech, DTES Land Trust, Executive Director of the Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House in East Vancouver
• Reza Nik, Founding director of SHEEEP, architect, artist and educator (Toronto)

Project Support

• BC Arts Council of the Province of BC
• Canada Council
• Canadian Heritage of the Government of Canada (Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.)
• City of Vancouver
• Community Housing Transformation Centre
• Culture Works Canada (check acknowledgment requirements)
• Inspirit Foundation
• Real Estate Foundation of BC

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible front entrance, elevator and washrooms
• Accessible and centrally-located elevator
• Braille signage available inside and around elevator
• Accessible, single stall, gender neutral, washrooms on every floor
• Double-stall washrooms with accessible showers are located on the basement floor
• Masks and hand-sanitizer available on L1
• Two HEPA air filters running throughout the event
• Baby changing station in washroom on L1
• Services animals are welcome in the building
• Power-operated doors at exterior entry/exit with emergency power supply
• Areas of refuge on each floor
• Service animals are welcome in the building.

Getting Here

• 825 Pacific is located between Howe and Hornby 
• Bike storage is available with prior arrangement
• There is no parking at 825 Pacific
• 2 blocks away from southbound buses (#10, 16, 14, 50, 7) that travel over the Granville Street Bridge
• 2 hour parking spots are available on Howe St. south of Pacific Street, and Beach Ave, around Brown Park
• The nearest parking lots are:
  • 1380 Burrard St
  • 1441 Hornby St