COVID-19 Members Guidelines

We have provided an expanded guideline to help members understand adjusted procedures and protocols required in order to access Paperhouse, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in consultation with the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 response framework, and in accordance with our (Paperhouse sub-tenants and staff) comfort levels.

This guideline is for members approved for rental usage only. Please get in touch with members@paperhousestudio.com if you have any questions regarding our PWYC membership and various rental fees.

Please keep in mind that renting members is different from regular membership. Anyone interested in joining and supporting our community can become a member, but members interested in accessing the studio for rental purposes to create their own artistic projects must go through our approval process. More information here.

Please also review our vaccine policy here.

We are currently on Phase 4.

Prior to Accessing the Studio

**Please stay home if you have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, reside with someone with COVID-19, and/or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, as detailed below.

As provided by the Provincial Government:

Symptoms of COVID-19 and variants range from mild — like the flu and other common respiratory infections — to severe. If you feel sick or not well, please stay home. Talk with a doctor if necessary.

Call 911 if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, can only speak in single words)
Severe chest pain (constant tightness or crushing sensation)
Feeling confused or unsure of where you are
Losing consciousness

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Fever (a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) and/or chills
Cough, including a barking cough or croup (continuous, more than usual, making a whistling noise when breathing)
Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
Decrease or loss of taste or smell
For children under 18 years of age: nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
For adults over 18 years of age: muscle aches, joint pain and/or extreme tiredness

If you feel sick or not well (not related to getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the last 48 hours), please stay home. Talk with a doctor if necessary.

Re-opening Phases

Please note: our “phases” do not align with the province’s “steps”.

Lockdown, before phase 1

1 person / 1 household in-studio maximum
Key-holding members only
No guests / visitors allowed*
Group/private classes, events, and programming prohibited.
Health screening required.

Members only:

1st Limited bulk booking of studio time—you cannot book more than 10 days of studio time at once.

Phase 1,

1 person / 1 household in-studio maximum
Key-holding members only
Group/private classes, events, and programming prohibited.
Health screening required.

Members only:

No new members
No guests / visitors allowed*
Overlaps of members permitted for required studio-specific activities, e.g.picking up work, putting supplies away. Maximum overlap time is 30 minutes.
Masks required when more than one person of different households are in the space
Maintain safe social distance
Limited bulk booking of studio time—you cannot book more than 10 days of studio time at once.

Phase 2,

3 people in-studio maximum, limited bookings available
Key-holding members only
Private classes permitted, max. 2 participants.
Masks required when more than one person of different households are in the space
Maintain safe social distance
Other events and programming are prohibited
Health screening required

Members only:

No new members
Limited guests / visitors allowed*
Limited bulk booking of studio time—you cannot book 2 full weeks of studio time at once

Phase 3,

4 people in-studio maximum, limited bookings available
In-studio classes permitted, max. 4 participants.
In-person appointments / meetings available
Masks required when more than one person of different households are in the space
Maintain safe social distance
Other events and programming are prohibited
Health screening required

Members only:

New members allowed
Limited guests / visitors allowed*
Limited bulk booking of studio time—you cannot book 2 full weeks of studio time at once

Phase 4,

5 people in-studio maximum
New members permitted
In-person appointments / meetings permitted
In-studio classes permitted, max. 6 participants
Masks required when more than one person of different households are in the space
Maintain safe social distance when eating and/or drinking
Other events and programming permitted
Health screening required

Members only:

New members allowed
Limited guests / visitors allowed*
Limited bulk booking of studio time—you cannot book 2 full weeks of studio time at once

Paperhouse sub-tenants and staff assess further to determine the re-opening strategy. We also reserve the right to adjust the timeline or restrictions according to our collective’s comfort as we move through each phase.

*During “Lockdown”, “Phase 1”, “Phase 2”, and “Phase 3” access to the studio is very limited. It is recommended to not have guests or visitors booked during this time to ensure members' access to the studio is maximized, unless it is absolutely necessary to your practice. During “Phase 2” you can book a guest to come in if it is required, e.g. a gallery / dealer / client visit, studio assistance, etc. We ask that you keep these visits at a minimum—both number of days and duration of the visit. During “Lockdown” and ”Phase 1” all guests / visitors are prohibited, if you require studio assistance we recommend asking someone from your household or bubble. The exception to this is if you require specific access needs, e.g. an attendant, personal care worker, or studio assistance due to a disability. We aim to remain flexible and creative in ensuring all members can still produce their artwork during these challenging times, while balancing health and safety for the Paperhouse community and our extended friends and families. We will work with each member to ensure your access to our studio is as comfortable and safe as possible.

Accessing the Studio

Upon registering for membership, and expressing interest in renting the studio, you will be asked to provide proof of a minimum of 2 vaccinations, as per our vaccine policy, via email or in-person.
You will be responsible for any guests or visitors you bring into the space, including adhering to our COVID-19 protocols, the vaccine policy, and our Code of Conduct.
All bookings must be made on the “Members” Google Calendar, as an “event”. Each member’s or your guest’s name must be listed, even if you intend to work together or at the same time. You will only have access to this calendar if you have been through the approval process for renting / key-holding members.
For papermakers: please use the “Beater” Google Calendar to book your pulp beating and duplicate the event in the “Members” calendar to indicate the entire duration of your studio rent that day.
There is a members WhatsApp chat that will provide more accurate up to date information, e.g. last minute cancellations, requests, etc. If you are unable to join this chat, please contact members@paperhousestudio.com to discuss alternatives.
Please give yourself and the next person a cushion when booking your studio time, for example: If you think you will need 4 hours, please book in 5-6 hours depending on your process. For papermakers, give yourself an additional 2 hours as clean-up can take much longer than you think. During “Lockdown” phase—please ensure there is at least 30 minutes between calendar bookings. You can always adjust the booking when you are done if you end up taking less time or use the WhatsApp chat to let everyone know.
We invoice for the entire month at once, usually at the beginning of the next month. For example: we invoice your October rental usage in the 1st or 2nd week of November. We use the “Members” calendar as reference to the days and type of rental pass we need to invoice you for, for example: if we see that you booked one day for 6 hours, we charge you a full day pass. Thus, it is your responsibility as a renting member to update the calendar with your correct usage.
Please ensure you have a comfortable face mask available to wear while you are in our studio with other members, and in the building—Artscape Youngplace (AYP). If you are unable to wear a mask due to pre-existing health conditions, please contact at members@paperhousestudio.com to discuss with us.
With exceptions to access needs, we will not permit members to enter the building and/or the studio without a face mask. The studio will not have a box of disposable masks available, however there is a Shoppers Drug Mart nearby (Queen and Ossington) that will have an available supply for you to purchase.
You will need to fill in Paperhouse’s contact tracing form.

In the Studio

Upon entry to Paperhouse, we encourage you to sanitize and/or wash your hands with soap.
Throughout your studio time we encourage you to wash your hands or disinfect your hands regularly, particularly before and after eating.
Mask-wearing requirements: If you are working alone in the studio, you are not required to wear a mask. If there are other members or staff, not in your household, everyone is required to wear a mask and try to keep a socially safe distance (2m / 6ft).
Eating is now permitted inside the studio under these conditions: each member will be asked to sit in designated areas that are 6ft apart from each other, windows will be open, and the air purifier on. Drinking water or other beverages to stay hydrated is allowed throughout the studio, provided that you create a safe distance (at least 6ft. apart) before removing your mask and drinking. Please ensure your beverage has a lid. Please bring your own water bottles, tupperware, and cutlery, the studio will not provide any of these supplies. In addition, we do not have a kitchen sink set-up, please bring all containers and utensils home to safely wash.
Lounging or eating / drinking is permitted in the common AYP areas (e.g. hallway and mezzanine). You can also use the outdoor seating spaces.
Communal aprons are now available (hanging on the stack drier). Other PPEs (personal protective equipment), e.g. respirators, dust masks, ear plugs, gloves, etc. will not be available, please bring your own. Headsets for loud noise protection (e.g. beater) are available as those are not used as regularly and can be sanitized more easily.
Guests / visitors are permitted provided the proper COVID protocols are adhered to and all members are responsible for their guests. Please also refer to the above number restrictions per step measurements.

End of the Day Procedure in the Studio

All members are required to sanitize both their work area and the studio before locking up, if they are the last person to leave. Sanitizing includes using our general purpose cleaner to disinfect high usage areas—door handles (inside and outside), light switches, sink taps, hose, table tops, handles on any machinery used, any tools used, fridge door, microwave door and buttons, and chairs. Additionally, please air out (open a window, and turn on the fan) the studio for 15 minutes prior to locking up. Detailed guide to proper sanitization will be provided as part of member orientation.
Members are required to fill in the sign-out / lock-up sheet.
Papermaking clean-up and collecting of artworks: Members are responsible to return to collect any of their papers drying in the stack drier or air drying. In addition, members are required to put away any tools or materials that were left to dry, e.g. moulds and deckles, pellons, blankets, buckets, etc. Collecting your artworks and putting away tools or materials does not count as a rental day. It should take you no longer than 30 to 45 minutes to do these tasks. If cleaning up takes you much longer you will need to plan to include this in your previous rental day or split it into multiple days.

Additional Information

Studio Sanitization Plan

Members and staff will work together to sanitize the studio.
Members are required to sanitize both their work areas and high usage areas* if they are the last person to leave.
Staff will increase deep cleaning to once a week. Deep cleaning includes scrubbing of the wash-out area and sink, intensive cleaning of table-tops, vacuuming, mopping, etc.
Members are not permitted to be in the studio when the big deep clean is happening.

*High usage areas: door handles (inside and outside), light switches, sink taps, hose, table tops, handles on any machinery used, any tools used, fridge door, microwave door and buttons, and chairs