What Ateliers Belleville does

Ateliers Belleville is a Montreal-based non-profit cultural organization (organisme à but non lucratif), officially founded in 2015 with roots dating to 2012, operating LAB-545 — a 55,000+ square foot collective cultural infrastructure at 545 rue Legendre Ouest in the Chabanel district. The organization was established by artists Alexis Bellavance and Jonathan Villeneuve to address the displacement of independent artists in Montreal caused by real estate development, and it structures this response around a three-tier membership model (occupant members with dedicated studio space, external members paying annual fees, and organizational members). Its core product is the integrated physical and programmatic infrastructure combining seven shared studios (~18,000 sq ft for ~70 resident occupants), four specialized fabrication workshops (wood, metal, ceramics, and a digital FabLab with CNC routers, laser cutters, and 3D printers), four private residency studios on the third floor, a multi-purpose Salle Multi/black box venue, production support services, and Radio Belleville 545 kHz.

The underlying technology spans physical fabrication equipment, an open-plan studio design that maintains visual and relational continuity, and lightweight digital infrastructure (Mailchimp newsletter, Airtable forms, Framer website, Zeffy ticketing). Revenue mechanics combine recurring member occupancy fees (private studios listed at $700.20-$974.50/month + tx for members), an annual membership fee of $120+ tx, transactional space rentals and event ticketing ($10-$23 per ticket), professional production services for outside clients, donations and crowdfunding (over $17,000 raised via La Ruche/Fonds Mille et UN for the Grand Opening), and substantial multi-tier government and institutional grants from municipal, provincial, and federal Canadian arts funding bodies.

The customer base is long-tailed — 85+ resident artist and artisan members across disciplines, plus visiting artists, cultural organizations (Eastern Bloc, Danse-Cité, EXMURO, SAT, MUTEK, ONF), and the general public attending ticketed programming — and the organization has recently completed a step-change in scale with the acquisition of the Legendre building in December 2022, full move in April 2025, and Grand Opening in June 2026 co-produced with Eastern Bloc's SIGHT+SOUND festival.

Name

Ateliers Belleville

Legal name

Ateliers Belleville

Website

https://ateliersbelleville.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ateliers Belleville is a Montreal non-profit operating LAB-545, a 55,000+ sq ft collective cultural infrastructure providing shared studios, specialized fabrication workshops (wood, metal, ceramics, digital FabLab), private residencies, production support, and programming for 85+ resident independent artists, artisans, cultural organizations, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist Studios and Cultural Workshop Services

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

Keywords

• Shared artist studios
• Fabrication workshops
• Artist residency programs
• Production support services
• Community cultural space

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to workspaces, specialized workshops, and services. Resident members have dedicated studio spaces; external members pay competitive rates for workshop and equipment access.
2. Space Rentals: Rental of production studios, common rooms, and multi-purpose spaces to artists, cultural organizations, and the public. Designed for specific artistic production needs through to staging and exhibition.
3. Production Support Services: Multidisciplinary project production services for artists, organizations, institutions, and businesses. Services include design, planning, coordination, budget management, fabrication, prototyping, logistics, installation, and partner sourcing.
4. Event Ticketing: Revenue from ticketed events including the ECHOS concert series, performances, and special programming. Ticket prices range from $15-20 for concerts; Mini-Golf Belleville Plaisirs generated revenue with adult tickets at $12.
5. Donations and Crowdfunding: Sociofinancement campaign with La Ruche for the Grand Opening. Over $17,000 raised for developing services for emerging artists and the school community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ateliers Belleville is a non-profit cultural service organization that operates LAB-545, a 55,000+ square foot collective cultural infrastructure providing shared artist studios, four specialized fabrication workshops (wood, metal, ceramics, digital fabrication lab), private residency studios, production support services, and training/mentoring programs. The organization serves 85+ resident members and visiting artists through a tiered membership model complemented by space rentals and public cultural programming.

Product overview

Ateliers Belleville (LAB-545) is a cultural service, creation, production, and diffusion organization operating as a single unified facility with multiple integrated service offerings. The core product is the LAB-545 physical infrastructure at 545 Legendre Street West—a 55,000+ square foot collective cultural space combining shared studios, specialized fabrication workshops (wood, metal, ceramics, digital FabLab), private residency studios, and presentation/diffusion spaces. Supporting services include production support (technical mentoring, project production), training and mentoring programs, space rentals, and Radio Belleville 545 kHz. The organization operates on a membership model with three tiers: Occupant Members, External Members, and Organizational Members. The facility also hosts cultural programming including the Composite digital creativity series, ECHOS music concerts, and COSMOS performance platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shared Studios (Ateliers partagés) Nearly 18,000 square feet of workspace organized into seven large shared studios accommodating approximately 70 resident artist and artisan members, with each member having a dedicated workspace with storage for materials and tools in an open-plan design that maintains visual and relational continuity.
• Specialized Fabrication Studios (Ateliers spécialisés) Four specialized fabrication workshops including wood shop, metal shop, ceramic shop, and digital fabrication lab (FabLab), equipped with CNC routers, laser cutters, multiple 3D printers, metal working equipment, and ceramic facilities for member use across artistic and craft disciplines.
• Private Studios for Residencies (Ateliers privés) Four private studios on the 3rd floor dedicated to artist, artisan, researcher, and curator residencies of varying duration. Available to both members and external individuals, featuring shared kitchen, bathrooms, and access to common areas and specialized workshops.
• Production Support Services (Soutien à la production) Comprehensive multidisciplinary project production services for artists, organizations, institutions, and businesses, including technical mentoring, access to specialized workshops and shared equipment, design, planning, coordination, budget management, fabrication, prototyping, logistics, installation, and partner sourcing.
• Training and Mentoring Program (Formations et mentorat) Personalized mentoring program connecting members with the general public and artists seeking specific skills. Includes technical training, health and security certifications, specialized workshops, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing across the member community.
• Space Rentals (Locations d'espaces) Rental spaces designed for artistic production including production studio, common room, and multi-purpose room (salle multi/black box). Available to established artists, emerging creators, and cultural organizations with attention to accessibility and affordable rates.
• Radio Belleville 545 kHz Experimental radio station broadcasting from within the studios. Features discussions, music, interviews, sound projects, and captures moments from studio life. Aims to become a living sound archive documenting artistic practices, experimentations, and community interactions.
• Membership Program (Membrariats) Three-tier membership model: Occupant Members (with dedicated studio space), External Members (annual fee for specialized workshop access and services, open to everyone including non-artists), and Organizational Members (for cultural organizations). Encourages informal exchanges and knowledge sharing within the artistic community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85+ resident members supported with long-term affordable workspaces
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Eastern BloccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Co-production partnership with Eastern Bloc for the Grand Opening celebration (June 11-13, 2026) and ongoing collaboration. Eastern Bloc is an artist centre and co-producer of the SIGHT+SOUND digital art festival featured during the opening. The partnership includes co-production of events, artist collaborations, and shared programming for the digital arts community.
• La RuchecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Partnership for the 'Créer sous un même toit' crowdfunding campaign supporting the Grand Opening. La Ruche platform hosted ticketing and donations. Each contribution matched dollar-for-dollar by Fonds Mille et UN (FM1). Funds support mediation projects for emerging artists and school communities. Over $17,000 raised.
• Goethe Institut MontrealsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Co-presenter of Composite #46 digital creativity meetup (June 3, 2026) alongside Eastern Bloc and Ateliers Belleville. Part of ongoing collaboration for digital arts programming.
• MAPP_MTLsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Coordination partner for Composite #46 digital creativity meetup. MAPP_MTL supports the Montreal digital arts ecosystem.
• MUTEKsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Event partner for Composite #46. MUTEK is a major Montreal electronic music and digital arts festival.
• Société des arts technologiques (SAT)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Event partner for Composite #46. SAT is a Montreal organization focused on digital arts and immersive experiences.
• Office national du film du Canada (ONF)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Event partner for Composite #46. Canada's national film board supporting Canadian media arts.
• XN QuébecsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Event partner for Composite #46. XN Québec supports digital culture and media arts in Quebec.
• Danse-CitécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Partnership for the COSMOS residency platform. Danse-Cité presented the 3rd edition of COSMOS (April 23-25, 2026) in the newly inaugurated multi-purpose room, marking the inauguration of the performance space. The platform invites artists to create work with carte blanche within certain parameters.
• EXMUROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2025Partnership for the 'Mini-Golf Belleville Plaisirs' exhibition (June 21 - September 1, 2025) featuring 20+ established Quebec artists creating an 18-hole mini-golf course combining sports and contemporary art.
• Atelier BardacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm responsible for the architectural design of LAB-545. Worked with co-founder Alexis Bellavance on creating a functional, flexible, and inspiring space supporting diverse artistic practices and interdisciplinary exchanges.
• Dieu du Ciel! BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Montreal craft brewery providing beverages for events including the ECHOS concert series.
• Ateliers Port-RoyalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the annual Port-Royal Christmas Market. Ateliers Port-Royal was founded in 2009 by former tenants of the defunct 305 de Bellechasse studios. Collaboration brings together 90+ artists and artisans annually.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Major Canadian multi-disciplinary arts institution providing residencies, fabrication facilities, and public programming across visual arts, music, dance, and digital media. Comparable in combining residencies, specialized workshops, and cross-disciplinary programming, but operates at far larger scale and geographic exposure.
• MASS MoCA: Large-scale North American cultural complex combining museum galleries, fabrication/production workshops, and residency programming on a former industrial campus. Comparable to LAB-545's industrial-building-adapted, multi-disciplinary artistic production model, though MASS MoCA operates at much larger scale and as a broader cultural/visitor attraction.

Direct peers

• OBORO: Montreal artist-run centre founded in the 1980s that supports contemporary art practices through production, dissemination, and residencies for local, national, and international artists. Closely aligned with Ateliers Belleville's mandate to support independent visual and media-based practices and its organizational structure as a Montreal non-profit.
• Skol Centre des arts actuels: Montreal artist-run centre supporting contemporary art production and dissemination through exhibitions, residencies, and specialized programming. Shares Ateliers Belleville's mandate of fostering independent contemporary art practices as a non-profit serving visual and digital artists in the same city.
• Eastern Bloc: Montreal-based artist-run centre focused on digital and new media arts, co-producer of the SIGHT+SOUND festival and a direct program partner of Ateliers Belleville (Composite meetups, Grand Opening). Operates a comparable artist-centred, Montreal non-profit model with exhibition, residency, and production capabilities.
• Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based non-profit that combines affordable artist studios, specialized fabrication (wood, metal, ceramics, digital), music and performance programming, and a science-and-education platform under one roof. Operates a comparable shared-workspace-plus-cultural-programming hybrid model, making it the closest analogue to LAB-545's integrated studio/workshop/programming stack.
• Artscape (Toronto): Canadian non-profit that develops and operates affordable creative space for artists and cultural organizations across multiple Toronto properties. Directly comparable as a Canadian non-profit dedicated to securing long-term, below-market studio and workspace infrastructure for independent artists.
• Joan Mitchell Center: New Orleans-based non-profit arts facility offering subsidized studios, residency programs, and fabrication facilities to visual artists at various career stages. Directly comparable as a US non-profit that provides long-term studio space and creation support through collective infrastructure for working artists.
• Dazibao: Long-standing Montreal artist-run centre dedicated to contemporary image-based practices, providing exhibition, dissemination, and production support for independent visual artists. Operates the same hybrid artist-services + non-profit governance model as Ateliers Belleville within the same local funding ecosystem.

Others

• Société des arts technologiques (SAT): Montreal non-profit focused on immersive digital arts, research, and creative technology, co-presenting partner of the Composite meetups at LAB-545. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same Montreal cultural-infrastructure ecosystem and shares a mandate to support digital and creative practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ateliers-belleville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ateliers Belleville