![Art Borups Corners founding members Tony Eetak and Dr. Olaf Kuhlke from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design present during their first knowledge exchange session at Qaumajuq and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Photo: Jamie Bell](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tony-eetak-olaf-kuhlke-mcad-arctic-research-arts-entrepreneurship-winnipeg-manitoba-minnesota-768x461.jpg)
Winnipeg Arts Incubator Program
![Art Borups Corners founding members Tony Eetak and Dr. Olaf Kuhlke from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design present during their first knowledge exchange session at Qaumajuq and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Photo: Jamie Bell](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tony-eetak-olaf-kuhlke-mcad-arctic-research-arts-entrepreneurship-winnipeg-manitoba-minnesota-768x461.jpg)
The Latest News
Our People Our Climate: How Indigenous Arts Are Bridging Climate Awareness and Cultural Entrepreneurship
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, an exciting arts initiative is reshaping the way Indigenous youth interact with the arts and climate action.
Winnipeg Arts Incubator Program
Located in the heart of Winnipeg, our Arts Incubator collective is a small, but dynamic hub for collaboration, innovation, and growth. Established in 2021 with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse and with projects supported by the Manitoba Arts Council, our incubator fosters the intersection of digital arts and artificial intelligence, groundbreaking community-based participatory research, and mentorship for creative leadership skills.
As a central gateway and gathering point for our growing Community of Practice and Care, we empower artists, researchers and cultural connectors to push boundaries, connect with community, and spark lasting change. Join us in shaping the future of arts and culture—one innovative project at a time. The hub has grown to collaborate with other arts programs and community-driven projects across Manitoba, and regions across the circumpolar world.
The Latest Winnipeg Arts Incubator Stories
![](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img-PiWlXsdbzsJx46Tdsg15BfnP-300x171.png)
2023-2024 Activities, Impacts and Outcomes Report
We’re thrilled to share our 2023-2024 Activities, Impacts, and Outcomes Report! This year has been transformative, as we continued rebuilding our facilities, expanded our arts-based programming, and deepened our focus on climate entrepreneurship and creative leadership.
![Art Borups Corners and Winnipeg Arts Incubator founding member Tony Eetak is one of the emerging youth and artists using the OpenAI Researcher Access Program to support participatory arts, digital skills development and community-based research.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tony-Eetak-Art-Borups-Corners-Winnipeg-Arts-Incubator-openai-researcher-northern-canada-Digital-Greenhouse-300x169.jpg)
Transforming the Future With AI, Game Design and Participatory Arts Research
This year a small, grassroots arts hub in Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba is revolutionizing Northern arts and community research fusing art and AI. From skills to streamlining administrative tasks, empowering youth with gamified learning, and creating digital archives, this innovative program is building the next generation of leaders while addressing complex local issues with cutting-edge technology.
![Hard at work: We were so excited to be collaborating last year with biosystems students at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was inspiring to see Minnesota and Manitoba connecting through relationship development and engagement using the arts and experiential design. Photo: Kami Norland](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mcad-hard-at-work-300x225.jpeg)
How Learning About Experiential Design Can Transform Opportunities for Artists and Their Communities
Emerging artists in Winnipeg and Minneapolis have been stepping beyond traditional studios to address critical issues like food security and climate resilience through experiential learning. By combining hands-on practice with creative reflection, they’re using art as a powerful tool for community transformation while gaining invaluable real-world skills.
![Emerging youth artist and musician Tony Eetak explores a VR installation in summer 2024 at the Urban Shaman Contemporary Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/urban-shaman-jamie-bell-tony-eetak-1-scaled-1-300x169.jpg)
From Biophilic Design to VR: The Next Era of Artistic Storytelling?
Revolutionizing the arts in rural and northern communities, a Winnipeg-based program is merging UX/UI design, virtual reality, and biophilic principles to craft cutting-edge, sustainable solutions. By blending technology, storytelling, and nature-inspired design, the initiative empowers under-resourced arts organizations to thrive, adapt, and connect with global audiences—while staying deeply rooted in their local identities.
![Art Borups Corners founding member Tony Eetak is this year's youth artist-in-residence with the Winnipeg-based nonprofit.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/448383749_487193920497142_6103886873946299152_n-300x169.jpg)
Exploring Climate Diplomacy Through Art, Storytelling and Creative Leadership
How do we tackle the big questions about our planet’s future while making space for personal stories, shared laughter, and transformative ideas? This fall and winter, our program is turning to climate diplomacy, oral history, and creative leadership to find answers. It’s not just about policies or protests—it’s about conversations that bring people together, foster understanding, and inspire action through the power of storytelling.
![In this photo, emerging Inuk artist and musician Tony Eetak reflects on the visible vault during a workshop at Qaumajuq and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Since 2021, Art Borups Corners and the Winnipeg Arts Incubator program have been supporting artists and communities across Manitoba, northern Canada, and internationally, seeded with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Tony-Eetak-Winnipeg-Art-Gallery-Cultural-Entrepreneurship-1-e1707359807600-300x200.jpg)
Winnipeg Artists Using Storytelling, Events, and Curation to Inspire Change
Rooted in creativity and community, a Winnipeg-based program led by interdisciplinary artists Jamie Bell and Tony Eetak is blending participatory storytelling, innovative technologies, and mentorship, to inspire artists and organizations to amplify their voices, plan impactful events, and curate transformative exhibits—all while staying true to their cultural identities.
Designing a Hub for Participatory Arts
In 2022 our program hosted artists and educators from across Manitoba and around the world gathered at the University of Winnipeg and Qaumajuq to explore arts-based and participatory methodologies to establish a hub for collaboration with support from members of the UNESCO Chair for Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education.
Research and Reconciliation
We’re incredibly proud to be featured as a chapter in Research and Reconciliation: Unsettling Ways of Knowing Through Indigenous Relationships, a groundbreaking collection that redefines the role of research in reconciliation efforts. Edited by Shawn Wilson, Andrea V. Breen, and Lindsay DuPré, this book emphasizes decolonizing methodologies, relationship-building, and honoring Indigenous perspectives.
It’s a powerful exploration of how research can move beyond traditional frameworks to foster genuine understanding and reciprocity. Being part of such an inspiring and transformative work is an honor, and we’re thrilled to contribute to the dialogue on Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation.
SOME OF our favourite moments
I Shall Not Be Moved
Enjoy a photo slideshow of scenes from Manitoba, Nunavut and Ontario with this rendition of “I Shall Not Be Moved” by musicians Tony and Paul Eetak.
This September, artists, lawyers, educators and people from all walks of life gathered at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to experience the Right to Be Known in a special participatory arts project led by the University of Manitoba.
Visualizing Climate Change for Impact
In March 2023, Our People Our Climate held a special workshop and delivered an expanded program based on the original 2020-2021 pilot with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). We were so happy to experience this program again!
The Ripple Effect with Global Dignity Canada
In this short video by Tony Eetak, experience some of the special guest speakers, artists and creators who have made time for our programs and activities with support from Global Dignity Canada.
Sometimes it's just for Fun
We work with small and large organizations, art and community centres across Manitoba and the world. But sometimes it’s just about spending time in Central Park jamming on a pawn shop guitar with a broken string.
Our People Our Climate: Manitoba
In 2022-2023, and with support from the Manitoba Arts Council youth artists learned about modern and traditional approaches to storytelling, photography and the arts to express perspectives on climate change.
What We've Learned So Far
With support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse and the ArcticNet Network Centre of Excellence Inclusion in Northern Research project, we explored storytelling and what it means to be included in participatory arts and community-based research.
Inclusion in Northern Research: The Space Between Things
This year our Winnipeg team was thrilled to be part of a special international dialogue on storytelling, arts, research and resilience with Dr. Andrea Breen from the University of Guelph and Dr. Shawn Wilson from Opaskwayak Cree Nation alongside the Inclusion in Northern Research program.
OUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY
![Canada-Council-for-the-Arts-Digital-Greenhouse](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Canada-Council-for-the-Arts-Digital-Greenhouse.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs in 2024 were made possible with support from the Manitoba Arts Council.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Manitoba-Arts-Council.png)
![UNEP](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/UNEP.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible in 2021 with support from Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Government-of-Manitoba.png)
![Our projects have been featured on Isuma TV](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Isuma-TV.png)
![UNITAR](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/UNITAR.png)
![ECCC](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ECCC.png)
![Sustainable-Canadian-Agricultural-Partnership](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sustainable-Canadian-Agricultural-Partnership.png)
![Our projects have been featured on CBC North](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CBC-North.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Minneapolis and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs in 2024 were made possible with support from the University of the Arctic.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/UArctic-University-of-the-Arctic.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Agriculture-Canada.png)
![Live-It-earth](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Live-It-earth.png)
![UNESCO-MTP](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/UNESCO-MTP.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the ArcticNet Inclusion in Northern Research Project.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ArcticNet-Network-Centre-of-Excellence.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship and Master of Arts in Creative Leadership Programs.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MCAD-Minneapolis-College-of-Art-and-Design.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/OpenAI-Researcher-Access-Program.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were founded by members of the Arviat Film Society. Their incredible contributions over a decade made everything we do today possible.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Arviat-Film-Society.png)
![Carter-Centre-2](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Carter-Centre-2.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the Université Laval and the ArcticNet Inclusion in Northern Research Project.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Universite-Laval.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the University of Victoria Community Based Research Lab. We've learned so much from them!](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/University-of-Victoria.png)
![Art Borups Corners, and its Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible in 2021 with support from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Innovation-Science-Economic-Development.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/UMD-University-of-Minnesota-Duluth.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from Global Dignity Canada.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Global-Dignity-Canada-2.png)
![Art Borups Corners, its land-based programming and Winnipeg-based Arts Incubator programs were made possible with support from LembasWorks.](http://artsincubator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LembasWorks.png)