Jamie Bell and Tony Eetak are two of The Arts Incubator members who are exploring AI for the arts this summer.
Strengthening the Arts Through Digital Capacity
Hello everyone, and welcome to our latest update from The Arts Incubator. This past week, we’ve been busy working on our core mission: helping artists and creative organizations succeed. We’re focused on building solid digital arts infrastructure, developing skill-building for artists, and doing important developmental work where art and technology meet. These efforts, which build on our work with the OpenAI Researcher Access Program, are helping to modernize the arts sector and increase capacity building for the arts across our regions and beyond.
Arts & Culture: Key Challenges and Opportunities
- Funding Shortfalls: Over half (54%) of nonprofits are experiencing stagnant or declining revenues. Most have lost access to emergency pandemic funding, and current grants and donations are not keeping up with rising costs due to inflation.
- Heavy Reliance on Volunteers: Most arts and culture organizations depend significantly on volunteer support—averaging over 100 hours per year per volunteer in this sector. However, groups across Northwestern Ontario are struggling to recruit and retain volunteers.
- Demographic Pressures: Northwestern Ontario, for example, faces a shrinking and aging population, with 20.3% over age 65 compared to the Ontario average of 18.5%. Youth out-migration further reduces the pool of performers, audiences, and future cultural leaders.
- Need for Capacity Building: In general, there is an urgent need for skill development in areas such as grant writing, digital marketing, and nonprofit governance. Strengthening partnerships with urban arts networks and investing in virtual programming could help expand reach and resilience.
And that’s why we’ve been learning to complement our arts and recreation administration training and capacity building with the increased use, adoption and exploration of digital tools and technologies. What we’ve noticed, is that many small, rural and northern arts groups are really struggling these days, with everything from volunteers to communicating, and especially administration, measurement and reporting.
What We’re Building: Using AI to Support Arts Innovation
Our recent projects show a real dedication to practical arts innovation through creative technology and AI in arts. We’re not just talking about what’s possible; we’re making it happen. A lot of what we’re building is experimental, and it’s a fun way to learn new skills, which we can apply towards upgrading and improving our incubator as a platform. It’s also fun. Because if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing!
So this summer, we’re having a ball learning how we can apply different tools and technologies to our work. And to support that learning, we’re designing and developing our own tools. While far from perfect (we are learning, after all), the skills we’re gaining will be well put to use in beefing up our platforms and programs.
First, there’s The Artist Bio Builder. This isn’t just another AI tool for artists; it’s designed to make writing a compelling artist biography easier. Visual artists, digital creators, and multidisciplinary makers can use it to clearly describe their artistic voice, career milestones, and creative journey. This digital resource is proving to be a valuable help for artist development, making a real difference in how artists approach grant writing tools and exhibition applications.
Then, we have The Art Idea Generator, which we see as a helpful AI-powered studio assistant. This tool provides fresh creative prompts, helping artists get past creative blocks and explore new artistic ideas. It’s a good example of how arts automation can improve the artistic process, saving time and helping with artistic skill enhancement.
We’re also proud of The PAR Generator (Participatory Action Research Generator). This prototype explores how Artificial Intelligence can support ethical, community-driven projects within the arts sector. It helps users plan their own Participatory Action Research projects, encouraging thoughtful reflection, shared decisions, and practical steps. This tool is important for community-engaged art and helps promote arts leadership through collaborative, effective initiatives.
For a look at practical, community-level impact, there’s “From Dumpsters to Development: Northern AI Gets Trashy.” This project, developed by youth artists and creative entrepreneurs, involved creating a custom WordPress plugin called the “Waste Station Volunteer Manager.” This is a strong example of applied creative technology for sustainable arts and climate entrepreneurship, using digital transformation to modernize waste management. It shows how skill-building for artists can extend beyond traditional art, leading to practical solutions that benefit the community.
Finally, “From Co-Star to Eco-Star” is an innovative framework designed to speed up climate entrepreneurship. It brings together AI, Indigenous knowledge, circular economy ideas, and regenerative business models. This framework offers a clear way to develop strong, high-impact project proposals, giving emerging leaders the tools to create ventures that help restore ecosystems and bring about positive change. This is essential developmental work for the future of both arts and sustainability.
Why All of This Matters: Building a Resilient Future for the Arts Sector
The work we’ve discussed isn’t just about making new tools. It’s about reshaping the base of digital arts infrastructureand improving the capabilities of the entire arts sector. Our efforts aim to ensure a more active and stable future for creativity.
A big part of this year’s program is empowering artists in small, rural and northern communities by offering accessible AI tools for artists like the Bio Builder and Idea Generator. This means we’re directly investing in artist development and fostering artistic skill enhancement. These resources allow artists to focus more on their creative work and less on administrative tasks, making professional growth more achievable for many creators.
Our work also helps with modernizing operations, especially for the arts and community. Projects like the “Waste Station Volunteer Manager” are about exploring the benefits of automation and digital transformation. By making organizational processes smoother, we free up resources and time that can be used for artistic creation and community involvement. This helps the overall arts sector modernization.
Importantly, we are incubating innovation and creative leadership. The PAR Generator and the “Co-Star to Eco-Star” framework are continuing to develop arts leadership that is forward-thinking and socially aware. They encourage the use of emerging technologies in arts to tackle real-world problems, linking artistic practice with community development and sustainable arts efforts. This is important developmental work that places the arts as a key force for societal progress.
Ultimately, building capacity is central to all our activities. Whether it’s providing practical digital tools, developing important interdisciplinary skills (like coding for artists), or supporting community-led projects, we are giving the arts sector the knowledge and resources it needs to thrive in a digital world. This ongoing learning and adaptation are crucial for the long-term strength and impact of creative industries.
Our commitment to building strong digital arts infrastructure through creative technology helps ensure that the arts sector stays active, accessible, and impactful, showing how AI in arts can lead to real positive change.
Thanks for reading and see you next week!
Special Thanks
This project was made possible through early support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and the Creative Entrepreneurship program at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. This is also the beginning of our third year of programming, which was piloted and seeded over the last couple years with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse and Manitoba Arts Council.
This year’s arts incubator programming is working with youth, climate entrepreneurs and artists from Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, Nunavut and Minnesota. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Tony Eetak, Maurice Alikut, Eva Suluk, Kendall Suluk, Krish Agrawal, Jamie Bell, and Dr. Olaf Kuhlke—each of whom played a key role in shaping, inspiring, and encouraging this work. Your insights, creativity, and commitment continue to guide this journey.
