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ProtoStudio Venue Collaboration — 2026

Created 2026-03-12
Tags collaborationprotostudiomontrealvenue

Proto Studio is a self-managed creative residency space in Mile End, Montreal (5333 Av. Casgrain suite 1107, 11th floor). Baseworks uses Proto Studio as the venue for its Montreal programs. Spring/summer 2026:

  • Practice Sessions — 16 sessions, March 15–June 27
  • Study Group (Spring 2026) — 7 Saturdays, April 4–May 16

Fall 2026 booking requested 2026-07-03 (see Fall 2026 Semester).

Contact: Nicholas Bellefleur (Proto Studio), proto@protostudio.ca. Proto is run by three volunteer artist cofounders (Nicholas, plus Cai and Lina).


Studio Rental Rate (What Baseworks Pays Proto)

Section titled “Studio Rental Rate (What Baseworks Pays Proto)”

This is distinct from the subsidies below, which are discounts Baseworks gives to Proto members. This section is the rate Baseworks pays Proto to book the rooms.

Residency rate: $24/h + taxes, applied to all Baseworks activities (Practice Sessions, Study Group, open days).

Confirmed by Nicholas on 2026-02-17 (email, “Inquiry about Proto Studio space use”, proto@protostudio.caorg@baseworks.com). This is Proto’s resident rate for classes, the same rate charged to comparable facilitated-practice initiatives (Alanna Kraaijeveld / Practicing Community, Lucy May / WIPSHOP). Agreed with cofounders Cai and Lina.

  • Payment: Baseworks may pay in two-month blocks (helps cash flow).
  • Invoicing: Proto needs Company Name, Name, Email, Telephone, Address.
  • Booking process: check the per-studio Google Calendars on protostudio.ca/studios for open (blank) space, then email date, time, nature of the reservation, and number of people. Requests must be at least 5 days ahead. Nicholas posts confirmed reservations to the calendar.

Note: the 2026-02-17 rate email went to org@baseworks.com (Zoho), not pat@ (Google), so it is not searchable from the gws CLI. Rate captured here from a screenshot Patrick provided 2026-07-03.


Requested 2026-07-03 (see Fall Booking Email). Confirmed same day by Cai (Proto cofounder): all requested studio dates and times reserved, resident rate continues, invoices issued for two-month-block payment.

Practice Sessions — 9 Saturday-morning sessions, 10:00–11:30, Studio 1 preferred:

DateStudioNote
Sat Oct 3Studio 2Studio 1 booked that morning
Sat Oct 10Studio 1
Sat Oct 17Studio 1
Sat Oct 24Studio 1
Sat Oct 31Studio 1
Sat Nov 7Studio 1
Sat Nov 14Studio 1
Sat Nov 21Studio 1
Sun Nov 29Studio 2Finale moved to Sunday; Nov 28 is Proto’s 3-year anniversary (whole venue booked). Studio 1 has an 11:00 class, so Studio 2.

Open day — Sat Sept 26, 9:30–12:30, Studio 2, to promote the fall programs. Confirmed 2026-07-03.

Studio assignments were derived from the public per-studio calendars on protostudio.ca/studios as of 2026-07-03.

Cai issued two invoices for two-month-block payment (2026-07-03):

DueCovers (block)Link
Oct 1, 2026Sept 26 open day + October sessionshttps://link.waveapps.com/h4qb6u-hycb5x
Nov 1, 2026November sessionshttps://link.waveapps.com/v8bbnc-4e3kyg

Expected total at $24/h: ~16.5 studio-hours (9 sessions × 1.5h + 3h open day) ≈ $396 + taxes, split across the two invoices. Verify the line items on the Wave links match the booked hours before paying.


Proto Studio’s site is built on Cargo (v3), a creative portfolio CMS. The classes page (protostudio.ca/#classes) displays a weekly grid organized by day, with each class entry containing:

FieldDescription
TitleClass/program name (linked to detail page)
InstructorTeacher name(s)
ScheduleDay, time in 24h format
StudioStudio 1 or Studio 2
Drop-in / PriceDisplayed as “Drop-in $XX”
CategoryDiscipline/style label
ImageThumbnail/promotional image

Individual class pages (e.g., /yoga-for-dancers, /ballet-with-view) are minimal: title, instructor, schedule, pricing, brief description, and images. No long-form copy — the Cargo template favors concise presentation.

The Cargo CMS uses custom HTML elements: <column-set>, <media-item>, <marquee-set>, <text-icon>. Nicholas manages the content — we provide the information and images; he formats it within his template.


See: Content for Proto Studio Website Listing


Subsidies for Proto Studio Members & Residents

Section titled “Subsidies for Proto Studio Members & Residents”

Proto Studio has two distinct categories:

  1. Solo & Family memberships — community members who use the space
  2. Residencies — artists in residence at Proto Studio (separate from memberships)
CategorySubsidyApplies to
Residents (artists in residence)30%Study Group enrollment OR first Practice Session
Family members30%Study Group enrollment OR first Practice Session
Solo members20%Study Group enrollment OR first Practice Session

After the first Practice Session, all participants access standard pricing (sliding scale based on credit volume).

Study Group ($279 CAD full price, before tax):

CategorySubsidyPrice after subsidy
Resident30%~$195
Family member30%~$195
Solo member20%~$223

Practice Sessions (Introductory session $44 CAD, before tax):

CategorySubsidyFirst session price
Resident30%~$31
Family member30%~$31
Solo member20%~$35

Validation Approach — Coupon Codes (Confirmed)

Section titled “Validation Approach — Coupon Codes (Confirmed)”

Nicholas declined the automated verification system (member lists, identifiers, CRM cross-referencing) — Proto Studio prefers to keep things light on the administrative side and leave subsidy mechanics entirely to Baseworks.

Agreed approach: Baseworks creates three WooCommerce coupon codes — one per membership category — and handles all subsidy logistics internally. Proto Studio mentions in their newsletter that residents, family members, and solo members can receive subsidies on Baseworks programs and should contact Baseworks directly for details. Coupon codes are not shared with or distributed through Proto Studio — Baseworks provides them individually to people who reach out. Specific pricing details are kept off the public Proto Studio listing.

Coupon codeCategoryDiscount
TBDResidents (artists in residence)30%
TBDFamily members30%
TBDSolo members20%

Status: Coupon codes need to be created in WooCommerce. Codes provided directly to Proto Studio members/residents who contact Baseworks — not distributed through Proto Studio.

  • Practice Sessions page: Mentions “Proto Studio members & residents” with instructions to reach out via email. No automation yet.
  • Study Group page: No Proto Studio discount mentioned yet.
  • Infrastructure: Coupon codes not yet created. Pending implementation.

A Google Drive folder has been shared with Nicholas containing promotional photos, logos, and conceptual imagery for use on protostudio.ca.

Status: Shared — Nicholas has access. Additional assets can be added to the folder as needed.


ChannelOwnerStatus
Proto Studio website listingNicholasConfirmed — will create a page linking to baseworks.com. Will mention reduced rates for Proto community.
Proto Studio newsletterNicholasConfirmed — will include Baseworks programs and subsidy availability.
Instagram collab postsBaseworks (Patrick)Confirmed — Patrick posts, texts Nicholas to accept/decline each one.
Poster at Proto Studio entranceBaseworks (Patrick)Confirmed — Baseworks to design and deliver.
Baseworks newslettersBaseworksIn progress — will mention Proto Studio association. Nicholas invited to join mailing list.

DateSubjectDirection
2026-02-17Studio rental rate confirmed: $24/h + taxes resident rate, payable in two-month blocks; Nicholas to post reservations to calendarNicholas → Baseworks
2026-03-12Initial listing information + subsidy discussionBaseworks → Nicholas
2026-03-15Patrick and Nicholas met in person at Proto StudioIn person
2026-03-17Nicholas confirms simplified approach — listing, newsletter, Instagram, posters. Subsidies handled by Baseworks.Nicholas → Baseworks
2026-03-17Reply confirming agreement, subsidy approach via coupon codes, Instagram workflow, newsletter invite, posterBaseworks → Nicholas (draft)
2026-07-03Fall booking request: Practice Sessions Oct 3–Nov 29 (Sat mornings 10:00–11:30), Sept 26 open day, residency rate + two-month blocks, BRNet recap shared, request to lock scheduleBaseworks → Nicholas
2026-07-03Cai confirms all dates/times reserved, resident rate continues, will flag BRNet link to Nicholas; two Wave invoices issued (due Oct 1 and Nov 1)Cai (Proto) → Baseworks