This week, we’re embracing the raw, dynamic energy of taking an idea and turning it into a living, evolving project. It’s about more than just sketching a plan—it’s about feeling how an idea breathes and moves as we make choices, adjust, and adapt. In learning to conceptualize, design and activate community art projects, we’re learning to trust in the process and give space for work to take form in ways we might not have initially imagined. The residency we’re developing for this summer is a key component in this process—we want to be able to encourage artists to explore their ideas more fully and create in ways that feel as alive as the thoughts behind it. It’s also about seeing art spaces where exploration is encouraged, and failures are part of the journey.
Collaborating as a group, we’ve been actively supporting each other by bouncing ideas off one another, sharing challenges, and finding creative solutions together. In this atmosphere of mentorship and peer-to-peer learning, we’re able to reflect on our individual strengths while growing collectively. The beauty of this year’s mentorship program is that it doesn’t just focus on technical skills but encourages us to nurture a creative mindset—one that values risk-taking, experimentation, and the evolution of ideas. Empowering each other in this way, our goal is to shape the kind of collaborative environment that will thrive in the summer residency, where youth and emerging artists can bring their own projects to life with a blend of support and creative freedom.
Throughout this week, we’ve realized that many organizations continue to struggle with capacity, particularly when it comes to developing pipelines for leadership among youth and emerging artists. The mentorship and internship opportunities we’re planning for our summer program are designed to directly address this gap. It’s about creating structured environments where young and emerging artists can gain real-world experience, where we’re not only helping them hone their craft but preparing them to lead and mentor others in the future. This cascading learning approach is intended to make sure that leadership in our small arts communities can continue to grow in sustainable, meaningful ways.
Our work this week explored the importance of participatory arts approaches, where audiences aren’t just observers but active participants in the art’s unfolding. This process of shared creation strengthens the work by layering in multiple perspectives. As we start to design our summer residency program, want to integrate participatory practices that allow artists to engage with their audiences and communities in new and meaningful ways. It’s about moving away from static powerpoint presentations and inviting community members to also be co-creators, sharing voices and experiences. These kinds of practices are also extremely essential for developing leadership skills in young artists, encouraging them to think beyond their own vision and consider the broader impact of their work.
About Our Winter 2025 Program
Our Winter 2025 program in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is centered around mentorship, internships, and hands-on learning in digital storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, and leadership in the arts. This year, we’re using the program as a launchpad for developing the next iteration of our summer arts residency program, focused on providing emerging artists with practical, real-world experience. Through our program, we’re cultivating spaces where participants can sharpen their digital skills, better understand organizational capacity building for the arts sector, and learn how to lead their own creative projects. Supported by the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and the Manitoba Arts Council, this year’s program offers tailored mentorship opportunities, fostering an environment of collaboration and growth that will shape the future of creative leadership.