From Learners to Leaders: Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Shape Sustainable Arts, Community Sectors
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – Throughout this series, we have explored the multidimensional nature of lifelong learning, from the grassroots power of informal education to the strategic advantages of formal training, and the crucial importance of culturally relevant approaches, especially for northern and Indigenous youth. Now, in our final installment, we look at the ultimate outcome: how this continuous learning journey empowers young people to become creative leaders and entrepreneurs, in actively driving sustainable arts and community futures. This journey of lifelong learning culminates in tangible action, with youth more empowered to become creative leaders and entrepreneurs, driving sustainable initiatives and shaping the future of vibrant arts and community sectors across Canada. Experts agree.
Interdisciplinary Winnipeg artist Jamie Bell envisions a future shaped by youth-driven creative ventures. “The next generation of arts leaders will be those who are not only creatively gifted but also entrepreneurial in spirit,” says Bell. “They’ll be the ones starting their own collectives and arts organizations, developing innovative creative businesses, and finding new ways to connect art with community and sectoral needs. Lifelong learning equips them with the skills and mindset to be these agents of change.”
Kami Norland’s article on non-hierarchical teams provides a blueprint for this future of youth leadership. She argues that “a non-hierarchical leader doesn’t dictate; they facilitate,” offering a contrasting approach to traditional models. Instead of “Here’s what you need to do,” Norland suggests the conversation should shift to collaboration, exemplified by questions like “What problems are we facing with our current system, and how do you think we can improve it?” This facilitative and collaborative leadership is critical for empowering future youth entrepreneurs and leaders. The “Our People Our Climate” project in 2023, integrating food security and climate entrepreneurship, and the youth-led “Come Eat With Me” project in 2024 both exemplified youth leadership in action. Furthermore, many of the relationship development and engagement activities were youth-led and focused on building collaborative networks between diverse organizations, institutions, and communities. These cross-cultural and cascading mentorship experiences showcased youth artists at the forefront of driving systemic change and fostering economic reconciliation through creative entrepreneurship, guided by facilitative leadership principles.
Winnipeg youth artist Tony Eetak highlights the transformative potential of Indigenous youth entrepreneurship for community sustainability. “For youth, we’re learning entrepreneurship is more than just a business; it’s a powerful pathway to self-determination and cultural continuity,” Eetak explains in Inuktitut. “Supporting Indigenous youth in developing opportunities for arts entrepreneurship rooted in our cultures, traditions, and values, we are able to invest in the long-term health and resilience of our communities. It’s about building sustainable futures on our own terms.”
Dr. Olaf Kuhlke, in his exploration of creative entrepreneurship, offers a guiding vision for this youth-led future. He emphasizes that creative entrepreneurship is about “aligning human values with economic ones” and “designing systems that prioritize trust, dignity, and sustainability over endless growth.”
The latest iteration of “Our People Our Climate,” incorporating AI technology, the “Come Eat With Me” project, focusing on participatory and co-designed approaches, and the “Relationship Development” initiative, prioritizing inclusion and collaborative partnerships, all demonstrate this value alignment in practice. They collectively exemplify how youth are leading innovative projects that combine creative expression, technological tools, community values, and entrepreneurial spirit to build a more sustainable and equitable future. As Kuhlke concludes, “creative entrepreneurship isn’t just a new way to do business. It’s a lifeline.”
From grassroots arts initiatives to social enterprises and community development projects, those who embrace lifelong learning are quickly becoming the driving force behind a dynamic and sustainable future for Canada’s arts, non-profit and community sectors. Their creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit are not just promising; they are essential.
Support youth-led creative initiatives in your community. How can you help empower the next generation of arts and community leaders?
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