The Purple Institution was a non-profit artist run centre/collective. The collectives aim was to provide a flexible multi-purpose space for all art forms. The collective transformed raw empty industrial space into a flexible gallery space with a removable wall to open up the space even further to accommodate performance, music as well as film and video events. The space also provided many live-in spaces that helped to fund the overall gallery space. The Purple Institution was formed in 1985 and it was first located at 620 Richmond St. In 1987 the Purple Institution moved to a 2400 square foot space at 42 Gladstone Ave. The collective ceased operations in the spring of 1991.