From music to storytelling and skills for arts administration, this year's interdisciplinary arts incubator program is the biggest yet.
MELGUND TOWNSHIP, ONTARIO — The 2025 Melgund Township Arts Incubator Program is in full swing, tackling a fundamental challenge facing artists in Northwestern and Far North Ontario: capacity. Now in its third year, the summer mentorship program, led by the Art Borups Corners collective, recognizes that local artists often shoulder the responsibilities of a full arts organization—from grant writing to project management—with little support. This year’s curriculum is designed to fill that void by empowering artists with the tools they need to become more self-reliant and sustainable.
A Curriculum for the Northern Artist
The program goes beyond artistic technique to focus on professional and organizational development. Participants have access to comprehensive workshops and hands-on training in financial management, marketing, and grant writing.
“These practical skills are incredibly important for artists who wish to lead and sustain their own creative initiatives,” said Winnipeg-based artist Jamie Bell. “Providing this training is about directly addressing the exceptional barriers and challenges faced by emerging artists and an aging established artist population in the region. It’s not like the larger centres where folks can easily pop into a gallery for a workshop, or to connect and learn from other artists.”
From Creators to Administrators
A key component of the initiative is a sharpened emphasis on exhibition, curation, and arts administration. Participants are gaining practical experience in gallery management and event coordination. The theme is different every year. This year’s program is focusing on introducing digital tools, storytelling and oral history. The group also decided they would explore photographing and documenting local flowers and plants.
“This year’s training is designed to make sure artists can create compelling work while also better understanding how to present it professionally and navigate the broader arts ecosystem,” Bell explained. This approach helps support artists in their dual roles as both creators and administrators.
This focus on capacity-building is a direct response to community-identified systemic challenges that have led to a decline in viable arts programming. In teaching local artists to better manage their own projects and programming, the program is supporting regional arts and cultural infrastructure from the ground up. This shift from often top-down, southern and institution-dependent models to a more grassroots one aligns with the program’s commitment to decolonized practices and non-hierarchical organizational models.
“It empowers local talent to take control of their careers and advocate for the resources they need to succeed,” Bell said. “One of the key goals we’re supporting this year is to create a more dynamic and self-determined future for arts in the region, where artists can build sustainable careers without having to relocate to larger, southern-based institutions. It’s about blending artistic creation with professional development, long-term sustainability, and making local contributions to the overall vibrancy of the northern cultural sector.”
“A lot of our programming happens online during the fall and winter, connecting us with arts groups and experts who provide invaluable support,” Bell explained. “But the fun part about the summer program is that it allows us to get away from the city-style boardroom environments and instructional settings. Nothing beats having our conversations out on the land—picking blueberries, photographing local plants, and sharing stories outside.”
This year’s summer program wraps up in early October. The next event for the program will be the Melgund Township Music Jamboree and Farmer’s Market on September 6, which will feature local artists with crafts and performances for the community.
About the Author
