Rising rents are forcing Montreal artists out of their studios

(Montreal) The landscape outside artist Francis Foster's studio has changed dramatically in 32 years: old train stations and dilapidated factories have given way to luxury businesses, new residents and luxury cars.

However, the interior never looked empty.

Once Mⁱ Foster shared a studio in a former industrial building with about a dozen other artists. But today, only two of them remain, barely surviving an eviction drive that has forced all other tenants out over the past three years.

The owners abandoned eviction proceedings last year because they had “achieved the goal of evicting most of the artists, some of whom have lived in the building for over 20 years,” he explains.

Named a UNESCO City of Design in 2006, Montreal has long been recognized as an artists' paradise thanks to its dynamic cultural scene and great rents.

However, as rents rise and old industrial areas are gentrified, some artists have no choice but to leave their craft.

When Mⁱ Foster moved into the building, the surroundings of which were completely neglected. “It was a very scary neighborhood,” he admits.

But around 2021, the area was gentrified, prompting the building's owner to redevelop it and encourage the artists to leave. Mⁱ Foster still pays less than $1,000 in monthly rent.

According to the executive director of a group representing the province's visual artists, it's an all-too-common scenario.

“What we already know is that the situation of artists is increasingly precarious,” says Camille Kazin, director general of the Regroupement des artistes en arts en arts du Quebec (RAAV).

RAAV recently conducted a survey to determine the impact of rising rents and the cost of living on artists. 450 people responded on the first day.

Like Mⁱ Foster, many artists locate in urban areas where the price per square foot is the cheapest. However, over time, the presence of artists in previously economically disadvantaged neighborhoods such as St. Henri or Mile End has led to an increase in prices, making these neighborhoods more desirable.

A common problem

Several artists admitted to The Canadian Press that they had to move studios multiple times or find nothing available.

A few years ago, artist and graphic designer André Laplante had to leave the studio he rented with other artists because some of them could no longer pay the rent. He says the precariousness of artists is exacerbated by what he calls the “double rent” phenomenon.

“You have to pay rent to live in a place, and you have to pay another rent to do artistic work that brings you nothing or very little financially,” he said in a phone interview.

Painter and visual artist Aida Vosugi was forced to leave her former studio after her grant was not renewed.

Mⁱ Vosugy, who now works in a smaller space associated with the University of Quebec in Montreal, says most financial aid measures are awarded only annually, which means “there's always concern for next year.”

Elected officials are aware of the problem

The city of Montreal recognizes that this problem exists and is trying to guarantee affordable spaces for visual artists, in particular through a program that subsidizes their rent.

According to Erika Alneus, culture manager of the executive committee, last year more than 400 artists took advantage of this program, which provides subsidies of $13 per square meter for creative spaces and $3 per square meter for storage.

The Ministry of Culture and the City of Montreal have joined forces as part of a 30-million program to renovate buildings that house artists' studios, often owned by artists' collectives or non-profit organizations. success that came together to buy them.

One such project is Ateliers 3333, created by the famous artist and writer Marc Seguin, along with other artists, after they were evicted from the building where their studios were located.

In response, Mr. Seguin teamed up with a real estate and social development company to buy a former industrial building in the Saint-Michel district and renovate it with a $5 million grant from the foundation.

According to Stéphane Ricci, vice-president of development at Société de développement Angus, one of the project's partners, today it is a workplace for dozens of artists who pay reasonable rents. The building is managed on a non-profit basis.

“I think it's a very interesting model because it allows artists to have a certain stability,” he says.

However, there are also serious issues, including the need for capital, as well as rising interest rates, construction costs and taxes.

Nevertheless, he considers the project a success. “We have about 130 or 140 artists who are installed and the owner never kicks them out because he found someone willing to pay more,” he enthuses.