How it works

How is the space managed?

The Atelier operates on a primarily volunteer basis according to a structure inspired by sociocracy. We have established four circles governing the internal functioning of the Atelier:

1. The administration circle is composed of professors from the Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation who are appointed annually and is responsible for the administrative management and day-to-day coordination of the space.
2. The programming circle. Twice a semester, Saint Paul University students interested in organizing activities at the Atelier must attend a coordination meeting to collectively establish the schedule and terms and conditions for holding these events. In exchange for free use of the space, members of the programming circle must contribute to its maintenance and the smooth running of its organization.
3. The third circle brings together all those who offer their services for conferences, training, or organizational support. These individuals are connected to our social innovation ecosystem through research, teaching, studies, or as external partners. This circle meets four to six times a year, depending on coordination needs.
4. Finally, a general circle brings together all those who have actively participated in the community for its annual general meeting.

 

Is it possible to rent the space?

As we do not have staff dedicated to the space, we are unable to rent it out on demand. However, we can establish partnerships with certain organizations that share our vision of social innovation. To rent the space, you or your organization must be sponsored by a member of the permanent faculty. For our partners, we offer a pricing structure tailored to organizations’ financial capacities.

Members of the Saint Paul University community are welcome to contact us to establish an agreement for use of the space. We will be happy to respond to requests to the extent of our capacities, 

 

How is the workshop funded?

We do not receive any funding to carry out our mission. Activities are financed on an ad hoc basis either through contracts or grants for specific projects. A percentage of the fees for our services is paid to the Atelier to cover the space’s basic operating costs. The largest share of this revenue is returned to students to fund project realization. Each year, we hold a participatory budget to support small projects that will take place at the Atelier, and we award the Bruyère grant, which supports two projects by students from the Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation, one international and one national, each worth $10,000.