Designing and Developing an Incubator for Digital Arts and Entrepreneurship with the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse Program
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our very first online course as part of our pilot Digital Arts and Entrepreneurship Project! This initiative has been made possible thanks to funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and their Digital Greenhouse program, which supports bold and innovative projects in the arts.
This program is all about introducing participants to the foundational ideas of cultural entrepreneurship while exploring the exciting possibilities of digital arts. We’ve designed it to empower emerging artists, entrepreneurs, and creators to find new ways of connecting their cultural practices with entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital world.
We’ve had the incredible privilege of learning from the Cultural Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where Dr. Olaf Kuhlke and his team have shared invaluable insights. A huge thank you to Dr. Kuhlke for his guidance and inspiration!
This exciting new project has two key components that reflect both our urban and land-based connections. The first is based in Winnipeg, where many of us work and study, serving as a vibrant gateway for collaborations between Northwestern Ontario and Nunavut—regions where we’ve built deep relationships over the years. The second component focuses on developing a land-based incubator through our group, Art Borups Corners, allowing us to take our creative work beyond the city and reconnect with the land. This dual approach not only bridges geographic and cultural spaces but also strengthens the links between urban innovation and land-based creativity.
We also want to extend special thanks to our collaborating artist Tony Eetak, whose creativity and commitment have shaped this program in amazing ways.
“Launching this course is a milestone for us,” says Jamie Bell, one of the founding members of the collective. “It’s more than just a course—it’s a new way of thinking about how art, culture, and technology intersect. We’re excited to create something that supports artists and communities in reimagining what’s possible in the digital era.”
Jamie adds: “This is about more than learning tools. It’s about discovering the stories and opportunities that only exist when we embrace the fusion of digital arts and entrepreneurship. We hope this is just the beginning of a bigger movement.”
Through this pilot project, we’re also diving into the process of building online platforms and experimenting with innovative tools and technologies to make creative education accessible to more people.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore, learn, and share! We can’t wait to see how this course will spark new ideas and connections.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Canada Council for the Arts for their incredible support in making this project a reality. Through their Digital Greenhouse program, they’ve empowered us to take bold steps into the world of digital arts and entrepreneurship, helping us explore new ways to share knowledge, foster creativity, and inspire communities.
Your commitment to innovation in the arts is truly transformative, and we’re so proud to be part of this journey. Thank you for believing in our vision!
