The Arts Incubator Winnipeg is a professional workspace for artists and creative projects. We operate an urban hub in Winnipeg, Manitoba where media arts, digital tools and creative production are the primary focus.

Our goal is to give Indigenous artists and youth leaders the equipment, studio space, and technical mentorship they need to build their own careers. We do not just teach people how to use software; we provide the professional infrastructure required to produce high-end work and maintain control over that work.

Our mission is grounded in the idea that having the right tools is the first step toward independence. We provide access to professional digital technology and storytelling methods so that our community can compete in the modern creative economy. By running a production site in the city, we make sure that creators have the hardware and the professional network they need to stay active and relevant in a fast-moving creative industry.

Come out and visit the amazing watercolour artwork of Dryden artist Tanya McArthur at the Dyment Recreation Hall Lower Level Art Space. The exhibition runs until May 17, 2026.
Melgund crafter Terri Bell showcases the timeless art of crochet in Northwestern Ontario’s newest heritage space.

Professional Media Production and Creative Leadership

The work we do focuses on the professional side of the creative sector. We provide training and mentorship in media arts, cultural production, and digital art. We believe that mastery of these tools is the foundation for a sustainable career. By bringing together traditional knowledge and modern digital methods, we help artists move from basic experimentation into professional production.

This hub is a place for practical work and creative action. We provide the technical environment for Indigenous creators to work with complex tools like AI and immersive media. In this urban space, artists can innovate and build their projects without having to compromise their identity or their values. We are building a permanent home for creative work in the city that is powered by emerging technology.

Qaumajuq Winnipeg Indigenous arts digital gallery supported by Canada Council for the Arts programs
Emerging youth artist and musician Tony Eetak explores a VR installation in summer 2024 at the Urban Shaman Contemporary Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Community Projects and Regional Connections

While our main hub is based in Winnipeg, our network of projects reaches across Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, Nunavut, and beyond. We work with urban collectives and youth to bring people together through art. We focus on reclaiming space for stories and voices that are often left out of the mainstream.

Through our programs, residencies, exhibitions, and collaborative labs, we give artists a platform to be heard on their own terms. We are a site of constant creative activity, helping people navigate the arts world while staying connected to their roots and their community.

Our program works to make sure that creative tools are accessible to anyone who wants to use them to lead and create.

Indigenous youth and elders participating in arts and cultural entrepreneurship programming in Winnipeg Manitoba workshop
Checking out how Virtual Reality and interactive media arts can be used to support climate action, participatory arts and storytelling at the Aabijijiwan Media Lab with the University of Winnipeg in 2022 with funding from the Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
In summer 2022, established and emerging artists from British Columbia, Northwestern Ontario, Minnesota, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba were able to come together in Winnipeg to learn alongside an inclusive, diverse team of researchers, arts educators and culture sector workers. 

Arts-Based Research and Community Practice

The Arts Incubator uses diverse creative practices as the primary tools for community-based participatory research (CBPR). In this model, the community leads the process, defining research questions and driving the investigation. Creative practice is used to explore lived experience and document community realities.

These participatory approaches make sure that communities maintain full ownership over the work, stories and the knowledge produced. Using artistic methods allows people to explore identity and place on their own terms. This incubator model supports self-determination and self-reliance, ensuring outcomes serve the needs of the people involved.

We use a decentralized model to keep incubation grounded in community context. By prioritizing artistic practice and participatory research, we focus on giving creators the foundation they need to lead their own projects and sustain long-term creative work.

The setting sun paints the snow-covered shores of Arviat with soft hues where the frozen expanse of Hudson Bay meets the land. Wind-sculpted drifts create a stark beauty under the fading light, a silent testament to the Arctic winter giving way to the subtle promise of spring.
The setting sun paints the snow-covered shores of Arviat with soft hues where the frozen expanse of Hudson Bay meets the land. Wind-sculpted drifts create a stark beauty under the fading light, a silent testament to the Arctic winter giving way to the subtle promise of spring.

The Path Forward

Our program operates as a flexible, decentralized and virtual system, working across multiple spaces rather than a single fixed location. This model increases accessibility and allows us to meet participants where they are.

Our current focus is on strengthening digital literacy and equipping artists with the technical skills needed for professional creative production.

We are building a creative ecosystem that is practical, inclusive, and community-driven. Artists retain ownership of their work, supported by a network that enables them to complete and share projects independently.

We continue to seek collaborations with artists, funders, and partners who believe in community-led creative development across Winnipeg, Manitoba, and beyond.

Everything we do is centered on supporting the next generation of creative leaders. By focusing on practical skills, mentorship, and community engagement, we are helping ensure that artists have the foundation they need to lead, create, and sustain their work into the future.

Contact Us

If you’d like to learn more about our work, explore potential collaborations, or get involved in upcoming projects, we welcome you to reach out. The Arts Incubator Winnipeg is always open to artists, community members, funders, and partners who are interested in building meaningful creative work together. Whether you’re looking to connect on a specific idea or simply want to start a conversation, we encourage you to get in touch and be part of what’s growing here.

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