The Arts Incubator

The Arts Incubator 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.

Purple Lupines in Bloom Delicate yet striking, these purple lupins are unfurling in full glory, their individual blossoms creating a magnificent tower of color. It's moments like these that truly highlight the magic of a summer garden.

Delicate yet striking, these purple lupins are unfurling in full glory, their individual blossoms creating a magnificent tower of color. It's moments like these that truly highlight the magic of a summer garden.

Purple Lupines in Bloom

The Arts Incubator June 9, 2025

Lupines. See why these gorgeous, towering blooms are a true highlight, bringing vibrant color and natural beauty...

From Green Leaf to Red Fortress What a transformation! These aren't berries – they're spiky rose galls, caused by tiny gall wasps. The shift from duller tones to this brilliant red signals different stages of their development, offering a fascinating peek into the intricate ecosystem of wild roses. Have you spotted these near you?

What a transformation! These aren't berries – they're spiky rose galls, caused by tiny gall wasps. The shift from duller tones to this brilliant red signals different stages of their development, offering a fascinating peek into the intricate ecosystem of wild roses. Have you spotted these near you?

From Green Leaf to Red Fortress

The Arts Incubator June 8, 2025

Curious about those odd, spiky bumps on wild roses? Understand the amazing secret behind rose galls! This...

2025 Summer Arts Incubator Week One Update Tony Eetak, a founding member of our program, frames a shot outside the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film in Winnipeg. Photo: Jamie Bell

Tony Eetak, a founding member of our program, frames a shot outside the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film in Winnipeg. Photo: Jamie Bell

2025 Summer Arts Incubator Week One Update

The Arts Incubator June 7, 2025

AI, arts, climate entrepreneurship: MCAD-backed initiative builds community capacity, shaping future frameworks.

Starry Clusters in the Wetlands Tiny stars of the wetland: a close-up of the distinctive seed clusters of a Starred Sedge (Carex species).

Starry Clusters in the Wetlands

The Arts Incubator June 6, 2025

Meet Starred Sedge (Carex species): a key wetland plant in Ontario. Its star-like clusters help stabilize soil...

Cream-colored Vetchling A closer look at the Cream-colored Vetchling: more than just a pretty face! This plant's hidden talents include enriching the soil and supporting pollinators.

Cream-colored Vetchling

The Arts Incubator June 6, 2025

Learn about the Cream-colored Vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus), a vital native wildflower of Ontario. Discover its appearance, traditional...

The Wild Rose Untamed beauty: a Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis) bloom, a testament to the resilience of the northern wilderness.

The Wild Rose

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

The Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis), an iconic Ontario native, offers beauty, key ecological benefits, and traditional uses....

Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve Surrounded by boreal forest, boaters on Melgund Lake experience the quiet beauty of protected waters and rich fishing traditions.

Surrounded by boreal forest, boaters on Melgund Lake experience the quiet beauty of protected waters and rich fishing traditions.

Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

The Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve is a pristine protected area in Northwestern Ontario, dedicated to preserving significant...

Northern Recreation Capacity and AI The dedication of recreation professionals makes moments like these possible. New technologies, including AI, offer promising ways to support these practitioners, freeing up time for direct community engagement and enhancing their ability to deliver impactful programs.

The dedication of recreation professionals makes moments like these possible. New technologies, including AI, offer promising ways to support these practitioners, freeing up time for direct community engagement and enhancing their ability to deliver impactful programs.

Northern Recreation Capacity and AI

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

How can AI can enhance recreation capacity, address workforce shortages, and drive innovation in community programs, aligning...

June is Recreation and Parks Month The tent's pitched, welcoming us back to the land as spring rolls towards summer. It's the perfect time to gather, share our old stories, and let the kids just be – soaking up the freedom and the quiet beauty of the tundra before the mosquitoes claim their season.

The tent's pitched, welcoming us back to the land as spring rolls towards summer. It's the perfect time to gather, share our old stories, and let the kids just be – soaking up the freedom and the quiet beauty of the tundra before the mosquitoes claim their season.

June is Recreation and Parks Month

The Arts Incubator June 4, 2025

Recreation and Parks Month in June isn’t about slogans — it’s about the everyday work of gathering,...

Your Community, More Active Gathering around a crackling campfire, residents connect with nature and each other. These moments of shared experience on the land are vital for fostering well-being and exemplify how outdoor physical activity creates strong community bonds.