members
benefits
become a
charles street video
member
for artists by artists
Membership at Charles Street Video is open to professional artists working with video, film, audio, installation, Extended reality (XR), and other media art forms. “Artist” rates apply when members must are working on non-commercial projects, over which they have sole creative control.
CSV is supported by its members, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council for operating funding and by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts for capital funding.
national access program
This program is designed for artists traveling to Toronto from out of town to work on a “one-off” production project, over which they have creative control, and who are members of other Canadian, non-profit, artist-run video, audio and film organizations. CSV will honour artists’ memberships in these organizations by waiving our membership fee and charging our Artist Rate. Contact the office for further details about this program.
events
CSV events are usually free and include screenings, artist talks, and parties! Come check us out and meet other independent media artists at our upcoming events.
With oyster shucking and media art screenings, Video Chucks are hosted by CSV once every quarter. They’re opportunities to bring our community together, socialize, network, and highlight our members’ work. If you would like to showcase your work at one of our upcoming Video Chucks, please email: greg@charlesstreetvideo.com
rent gear
Charles Street Video offers a diverse inventory of media art production and presentation gear to members.
Facilities
exhibition & screening room – are available to members to book for an exhibition, artist’s talk or screening.
Editing stations
Our two editing stations are available for member use on a first-come-first-served basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, save for times reserved by the facility.
In house editing service
Charles Street Video offers in-house editing services for picture and sound. The service is intended for small, short-term projects, orientations and/or for members who need assistance for a particular component of their project. If you require the services of an in-house editor, please contact the office.
hiring a freelance editor/ operator
Charles Street Video maintains an Experienced Technicians list of freelance operators for audio, video and mobile production. If you require the services of an in-house editor, please contact the office.
Members working with a freelancer are responsible for the room rental, all operator fees, terms of payment, scheduling, etc. When hiring non-member freelance operators to work outside of CSV office hours, the member must arrange after-hours access, including a key and an alarm code. The member should accompany the freelancer at all times. The member also must have made proper booking and billing arrangements.
workshops & training
current workshops
CSV offers a number of workshops on an on-going basis on the use of our most commonly-rented production gear and post-production software, as well as occasional special sessions on other available technologies, or on particular issues of interest. Workshop topics are wide ranging from technical training to writing and pre-production development, camera and shooting, sound, new media and gaming. Members get deep discounts on a wide variety of workshops.
available workshops
We maintain a list of workshops that we have developed and have access to instructors for and will schedule these workshops as demand warrants. Look through the list and when you find a workshop that you want to take let us know you are interested button.
Projects
CSV also commissions artists to create new works, and sponsors a variety of youth-oriented production programs and post-secondary scholarships. We actively participate in local exhibitions of media art through our partnerships with arts organizations and grassroots festivals.
residencies and commissions
opportunities to work at the facility as a resident-artist or to produce commissioned work. We often link our residency and commissioning programs to local exhibitions or media art festivals.
Resident and commissioned artists are generally selected by peer assessment committees in open competition.
maker space
CSV welcomes artists, collectives, and curators interested in promoting dialogue and experimentation about media art. Through our maker space program we are facilitating an open door opportunity to engage with our space and resources.
Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis. We are interested in supporting projects with a focus on media art (creation, discussion, and exploration), creating collective artistic spaces, and experimental/dialogical work.
individual workshops
on demand
Our new on-demand workshops provide flexibility for people unable to attend a scheduled workshop. If you are interested in taking a particular workshop and can find at least 2 other people who are also interested, we will work to schedule that workshop on a day and time that is convenient for you and at no more cost than our normal workshop rates.
one-on-one consultations
For an additional fee, we are able to provide one-on-one consultations on the topics of our workshops, or other media art and digital cinema topics.
Safe and Accessible Space
Accessibility
Charles Street Video is located on the ground floor at 76 Geary Ave. There is a short set of steps at the double-door entrance and an accessibility ramp to reach a second, single-door entrance. All doors open outwards, and none are powered.
There is one parking spot designated for CSV in front of the double-door entrance, which may be used for equipment pick-up and return.
There are two wheelchair-accessible washrooms in the space; one is sufficiently large for a power-chair turn-around.
It is important to us to do everything we can to create a safe and accessible space.
If you require interpretation, or have any other accessibility-related needs or questions, please contact csv@charlesstreetvideo.com at least two weeks in advance
Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy
Code of Conduct
CSV also has adopted and upholds the City of Toronto’s policy statement that prohibits discrimination and harassment and protects the right of all its staff members, clients and visitors to be free of hate activity from, or within the organization, and based on one’s age, ancestry, citizenship, creed (religion), colour, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, level of literacy, marital status, place of origin, membership in a union or staff association, political affiliation, race, receipt of public assistance, record of offences, sex, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic. Details about City of Toronto Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy may be found here:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-13239.pdf