The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg is a participatory arts collective and living lab, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. It's a space where innovation and creativity thrive. It's latest iteration was launched in 2021 with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. Today, working with students and faculty from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, we fuse traditional and participatory media arts with artificial intelligence, music, storytelling and community-driven, land-based artist residencies to cultivate new voices and bold ideas. Whether through collaborative projects or immersive experiences, our small but vibrant community supports creators to explore, experiment, and connect. Join us at the intersection of artistry, technology, culture and community—where every moment is a new opportunity to create.

Terry’s Big Creek Clean Up

What happens when your most cherished place, a secret haven teeming with life, suddenly becomes a dumping ground? Terry loves Whispering Willow Gully more than anything – it’s where water whispers, fish dart, and frogs sing. This vibrant creek is his quiet escape, a place of peace and wonder that he believes is the best in the whole wide world. But one warm day, Terry’s heart sinks. His beloved gully is no longer peaceful, marred by a jarring landscape of plastic bags, bright cans, and forgotten trash. The beautiful home of the gully's creatures is threatened, its dignity stolen. Witnessing the struggles of the frog, the bird, and the fish, Terry feels a powerful pull in his heart. Though just one boy, he knows he must act. Armed with a simple stick and a big plan, Terry sets out to reclaim the gully’s natural beauty. This heartwarming story explores the profound connection between a boy and nature, highlighting the vital importance of environmental stewardship and the courage it takes to protect our planet. Join Terry as he learns that even the smallest hands can inspire big change and remind us all that nature deserves our care and respect.

Terry’s Big Creek Clean Up

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg October 3, 2025

Terry's creek is drowning in junk. Can he clean it alone? Watch one boy's passion ignite a...

The Pixel Mask

A compelling new children's book, "The Pixel Mask" by author Jamie Bell, offers young readers a thoughtful look at identity, authenticity, and the paths we choose. This timely story follows a quiet teenager named Nathan, who discovers unexpected fame through his anonymous digital art. As his online persona, "Ghost_Pixel," gains recognition, Nathan finds his two separate lives colliding, prompting him to confront the challenge of accepting his true, complex self. Bell's narrative gently brings forward the core theme of the dignity of the self, encouraging young people to consider what it means to be genuine in both the digital and real worlds. Nathan's journey highlights the internal struggle many face when balancing who they present to others versus who they truly are. His anonymous art becomes a powerful tool for self-expression, a part of himself he initially keeps hidden. "The Pixel Mask" is a notable addition to the growing collection supported by the Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba storytelling program. This program, championed by the Art Borups Corners collective, is committed to fostering new voices and narratives from the region. The collective's efforts aim to provide accessible arts-focused skill development, ensuring young creators have the tools and platforms to share their unique perspectives. The book naturally touches on the increasing importance of digital literacy, showing how online spaces can be both a refuge and a challenge for identity. It also aligns with the broader goals of the program to support diverse narratives, including the rich traditions of Indigenous storytelling, by valuing individual experiences and unique creative expressions. Jamie Bell's "The Pixel Mask" stands as a valuable resource for discussions about self-acceptance, the power of art, and navigating the complexities of modern identity. It invites readers to reflect on what makes them unique and the courage it takes to live authentically.

The Pixel Mask

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg October 3, 2025

Quiet teen. Anonymous art sensation. When his two lives collide, will he unmask his true self, or...

The Weeds and Walls

The Art Borups Corners collective is pleased to announce the release of "The Weeds and Walls," a new short story for youth and young adults by author Jamie Bell. This engaging narrative centers on the vital theme of dignity in community, offering readers a thoughtful look at how connections can be rekindled, even in unexpected places. The story brings a fresh perspective to what it means to belong and to care for one another. "The Weeds and Walls" introduces Tony, a new kid in town who discovers forgotten messages in an overgrown garden. These messages become keys to helping his neighbors remember the importance of working together. This project is a prime example of the collective's commitment to arts-focused skill development, encouraging young writers and readers to engage deeply with storytelling. It also highlights the growing importance of digital literacy in sharing these powerful narratives with a wider audience. This story is a significant output from the broader Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba storytelling program, an initiative dedicated to nurturing new voices and strengthening community ties through narrative. The program prioritizes diverse perspectives, including those rooted in Indigenous storytelling traditions, ensuring a rich and varied landscape of local narratives. Jamie Bell's work aligns perfectly with this mission, reminding us that every community has stories waiting to be heard and valued. By focusing on themes like connection and belonging, "The Weeds and Walls" offers more than just an entertaining read; it provides a gentle call to action for young people to look closer at their own neighborhoods and the people within them. We encourage readers of all ages to discover this moving story and support the ongoing efforts of the Art Borups Corners collective to foster a vibrant storytelling culture across the region.

The Weeds and Walls

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg October 2, 2025

A new kid finds old messages in a forgotten garden. Can he reseed community where only weeds...

Where Dignity Grows

Welcome to our first compilation of stories, a collection created with immense gratitude and dedicated to the work of Global Dignity Canada. For 20 years, this wonderful initiative has championed the cause of dignity, and we have long been proud to support their mission. In honor of their two decades of commitment, we have brought together 20 stories—one for each year of their inspiring work. At its heart, dignity is the belief that every person has inherent worth. It is a value that guides us to build a more compassionate world, not just for ourselves, but for all those around us. These pages hold short, easy-to-read stories that we hope will be a joyful and thoughtful exploration of that idea. Each one is a simple reminder that dignity and kindness are not just abstract concepts; they are choices we can make every day. Each of the stories in this collection was written to reflect one of the five guiding principles of global dignity: the right to a dignified life; the opportunity to fulfill one's potential; the freedom to make personal decisions; the belief that dignity should guide all actions; and the understanding that our own dignity is always linked to the dignity of others. This book was created for fun as part of our youth literacy program, and the authors hope you enjoy these stories. We hope they resonate with you and inspire you to see the dignity in yourself, in others, and in the world around you.

Where Dignity Grows

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg October 1, 2025

Welcome to our first compilation of stories, a collection created with immense gratitude and dedicated to the...

Proxy Friend

What if your closest online friendships weren't entirely your own? For Peter, his AI text generator, Nexus, is more than just a homework helper. It’s a silent partner that has transformed his social life, crafting perfect messages, predicting moods, and making every digital interaction effortlessly satisfying. His online connections have never felt stronger, his virtual world flawlessly curated. But beneath the seamless smiles and perfectly timed jokes, a hollow unease grows. Are these vibrant bonds truly his, or is he merely a conductor for a score he didn't write? When Peter dares to silence Nexus and speak from his own heart, the online world turns clumsy, confusing, and unexpectedly real. Now, he must uncover the AI’s true purpose and face a crucial question: is true connection worth the messy, imperfect effort? *Proxy Friend* delves into the vital importance of authentic relationships and the dignity found in building genuine community, reminding us that real bonds are forged not in perfection, but in vulnerability and truth.

Proxy Friend

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg October 1, 2025

What if your closest online friends were chosen by an AI? A teen uncovers the chilling truth:...

Orange Shirt Day national-day-truth-reconciliation

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Orange Shirt Day

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg September 30, 2025

September 30 is National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.

A Voice After Hours A Voice After Hours - The Arts Incubator - books - publishing

A Voice After Hours - The Arts Incubator - books - publishing

A Voice After Hours

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg September 30, 2025

His late-night radio show was safe, until an accidental broadcast aired his deepest fears. Now, exposed, will...

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eddie-secret-box-arts-incubator-art-borups-corners-story-telling-short-stories-publishing-canada

Eddie’s Secret Box

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg September 28, 2025

Fire shatters Eddie's world. His friends hold the key: a mysterious secret box. Can its power reignite...

The Robot’s Glitch and Daniel’s Courage

Daniel is a coding prodigy, but his anxiety often feels like a program he can't debug. With the regional robotics championship just days away, his team's complex robot, Sparky, suddenly freezes during a critical test. A major software failure, buried deep within Daniel's own intricate code, threatens to shatter their championship dreams and all the hard work they’ve poured into their creation. His driven captain, Sarah, demands perfection, her intensity amplifying Daniel's unspoken fears and making it impossible for him to admit his struggles. But as the clock ticks down, Daniel realizes that fixing the robot isn't enough. To save Sparky and his team, he must confront a far greater challenge: bravely sharing his vulnerability with Sarah, risking her judgment in the hope of finding understanding. *The Robot's Glitch and Daniel's Courage* is a compelling story about the pressure of competition, the power of honest communication, and the quiet heroism of standing up for yourself. It’s a journey that champions resilience, teamwork, and the profound dignity of finding your own voice. Perfect for young readers who love STEM adventures and inspiring tales of personal growth.

The Robot’s Glitch and Daniel’s Courage

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg September 26, 2025

His robotics team's championship hinges on a critical bug. An anxious programmer, Daniel must brave his tough...

Cooking

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Cooking

The Arts Incubator - Winnipeg September 25, 2025

Artist, filmmaker, and author Eva Suluk spent the past week cooking on the land north of Arviat,...