This toolkit, developed by IMAA and completed in May 2020, includes a comprehensive analysis of Canadian arts organizations’ challenges in securing and maintaining affordable real estate, as well as a detailed resource toolkit of template documents, official guides, and sample documents from several Canadian arts organizations. This toolkit can be used as a resource for any non-profit arts organization that is looking to rent/purchase/design a new space for its operations to take place.

Once the decision to partner with one or more organizations is set in place, organizations may have difficulty establishing an official, secure agreement. This section contains many templates for confidentiality agreements, inter-agency partnership agreements,  and joint venture agreements, as well as an example agreement between PAVED Arts and AKA Gallery in Saskatoon.

a. Confidentiality Agreement – Template (Word Document)

Template for a simple confidentiality agreement which may be used as discussions commence with a new potential partner organization.

b. Inter-agency Partnership Agreement – Sample (PDF)

Sample partnership agreement between two non-profit organizations.  Includes a wide range of typical clauses to be considered in the development of a robust partnership agreement.

c. Joint Venture Agreement – Sample + Template ( PDF / Word ) 

Sample joint venture agreement amongst 4 non-profit arts organizations.  Developed to acquire (lease) real estate and to articulate how they would jointly manage the facility long term.

d. Partnership Agreement Example – PAVED Arts/AKA, Saskatoon (PDF)

Partnership agreement used by PAVED Arts and AKA Gallery Inc. in Saskatoon.  This agreement defines the relationship between the two partner organizations and the holding company that they formed to own and manage the shared real estate holdings.

e. Cooperative Equity Structures Guide (PDF)

Information document describing the nature of co-ops and how they are formed, and how equity funding can be raised in a Co-op organization.  Includes by-law requirements and other constitutional elements to starting a new co-operative.