Rentals

Rent the Studio

The What Lab studio space is open and available to rent for private and community practice.

The Details

Hourly = $20
Daytime rate (7am to 5pm) = $125
Exclusive use (midnight to midnight) = $190

What Lab has lighting, projection, and sound gear for renters to access. To use any of our gear during your rental, there will be an additional $7 per hour added to your rental fee, up to $50 a week.

*This does not include the rehearsal stereo already in the studio. That’s free!

The studio is available daily from 7:00am to 11:00pm.

  • There are no parties allowed. This is important due to the What Lab neighbourhood and is essential in allowing us to keep the space.
  • Please be gentle with our finished dance floors. No activities allowed that will permanently damage our floors.

  • Do not enter the What Lab studio if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.
  • We now have a 15 minute buffer between rentals so no overlapping takes place. Please do not linger in the studio once your booking has ended.
  • Please leave ceiling fans running at the end of your booking for airflow.

Bookings less than 2 days

  • 3 weeks notice: full refund
  • 1–3 weeks notice: 50%

Between 2 days and 1 week

  • 5 weeks notice: full refund
  • 2–5 week notice: 50%

More than 1 week

  • 8 weeks notice: full refund
  • 3–8 weeks notice: 50% payment
  • Remove stinky or excessive garbage (fruit peels, old food etc.) and recycling.
  • Turn down heat before leaving.
  • Lock the doors.
  • Sweep/mop after every rental.
  • Leave the studio scent free.
  • Remove food from the fridge.
  • Leave the lab as you found it. If you move furniture, please put it back.
  • Insure you are in and out in your designated time.
  • Wear soft-soled shoes or non-marking footwear.

What Lab is located at 1814 Pandora Street. There is no dedicated parking, only street parking. The venue is on the second floor, up a flight of stairs, but there is a ground level accessible entrance through the back of the building. If anyone needs to use this entrance, please let us know in your rental request form. There is one single-occupancy, gender-inclusive washroom. The washroom is not big enough for larger style wheelchairs to completely turn around in while the door is open.

Safer Space Policy

What Lab must remain an open and safe space for all people. Renters must actively ensure they create an inclusive and safe environment for all patrons of What Lab, who represent all sexual orientations, gender identities, and races who come from diverse backgrounds, histories, and experiences. Anyone who accesses What Lab has the right to be free from all forms of discrimination, oppression, and harassment, and must be treated with respect and compassion at all times. All renters are responsible for creating safe and respectful environments for everyone to enjoy and experience the arts to connect, network, share ideas, and learn from and with each other.

Suggested Group Guidelines

Originally from the Safer Space Policy / Community Agreements framework created by the Anti-Oppression Network

-treat others the way THEY want to be treated

-always have check-ins

-API – Assume Positive Intent – not everyone comes in with the same set of experiences and knowledge, so assume that people have good intent. Please have positive intent yourself, and be accountable for the impact of your actions and words as well.

-confidentiality – share lessons learned; names and identifiers stay

-don’t yuck my yum” / “don’t giggle my wiggle” -people have different tastes and preferences. avoid statements such as “i hate that” or “eww!”

-no shaming and/or belittling each other and ourselves

-use “I” statements – speak from your own experiences rather than generalizing

-self-care: give care to ourselves, however that may be, including:

  • take breaks from meetings/rehearsals if needed
  • pass on/delegate responsibilities if needed
  • saying yes and no when we mean it
  • asserting healthy boundaries

-all spaces shared by members must be as physically and socially accessible as possible. While not all access needs can be met by What Lab, we encourage:

  • use of our wheelchair accessible entrance, washrooms, seating
  • sign language interpretation and/or live captioning
  • hearing language interpretation
  • childcare available
  • access to a Compassion Fund for all artists and staff
  • scent-free/scent-reduced spaces
  • ongoing reflections of abled, anglophone, middle/upper class and other intersecting privileges and supremacist cultures