Last year, Tony Eetak, an emerging Inuk artist from Winnipeg, visited regional communities Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation as part of his study on artist residency programs, exploring community connections and creative opportunities in northwestern Ontario.
In 2022, a catastrophic flood at the Dyment Recreation Hall in Northwestern Ontario threatened to disrupt an innovative arts and cultural initiative in its tracks. But now, after nearly two years of working out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the team behind the Art Borups Corners collective is ready to move forward with new ambitions, re-launching their vision for a rejuvenated living lab in spring 2025.
The Digital Greenhouse, a pilot project seeded by the Canada Council for the Arts, had already set the stage for what would become a unique program where arts, cultural entrepreneurship, and capacity-building converge. And despite setbacks, the team has continued to lay the groundwork over the past year, with support from Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Jamie Bell, one of the Winnipeg-based artists and founding members behind the project, expressed his excitement about the upcoming phase: “What excites me most about this next stage is seeing the ideas that have been incubating over the past two years take flight. For us, it’s always been about creating a space where creativity is harnessed for real, lasting impact. We’re don’t just want to build a program; we also want to see a community of practice and care that integrates arts, food security, and opportunities to put entrepreneurship skills into practice.”
In 2023-2024, Bell and emerging youth artist Tony Eetak worked extensively to forge relationships and expand the project’s network. They engaged with programs and initiatives across Manitoba, Canada, and the United States, forming important connections with institutions such as the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Through these partnerships, they explored new ways to integrate the arts into community development, agriculture, and food security.
“We’re taking the lessons learned from all our engagements—especially with UMD—into this next phase,” said Eetak. “At the University of Minnesota Duluth, we took our first ‘Creativity for Entrepreneurship’ course during the pandemic, and it really opened our eyes to how we can use creative leadership to shape our communities. That led to us creating our arts incubator program. We’re building on that now to create something that will help northern communities be more self-reliant and sustainable.”
Establishing an Artists Residency Program
As they look ahead to 2025, Bell and Eetak are preparing for an arts residency program that will anchor the next phase of the living lab. The residency will bring together artists, musicians, and cultural entrepreneurs to engage with land-based programming, with a focus on food security and creative leadership. One of the models they have been looking at is the Riding Mountain Artist Residency administered by the Manitoba Arts Council.
The residency offers professional artists the opportunity to immerse themselves in their creative practice within the tranquil and inspiring environment of Riding Mountain National Park. Situated in a historic log cabin at Deep Bay, built in 1934, the residency is located along the scenic shoreline of Clear Lake, just two kilometers from the town of Wasagaming. A one-bedroom, fully furnished cabin provides a comfortable and secluded retreat, allowing artists to focus on their work while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the park. In addition to personal reflection and creation, the residency offers opportunities to connect with local residents and visitors, sharing artistic insights and work with the broader community.
“This is the kind of residency program we want to see integrated into our own initiatives,” said Bell. “Self-determination and self-reliance are at the heart of what we’re building. It’s not just about creating art or growing food—it’s about providing artists with the skills and environments they need to thrive and contribute to their communities. We want to see a sustainable program that brings lasting impact for both the arts and the broader community.”
This spring, the project will also continue to emphasize integration of digital arts with traditional cultural practices, offering opportunities for both emerging artists and community members to work together on projects that foster local capacity-building. Bell and Eetak are particularly excited about continuing their collaboration with agriculture programs in Manitoba and Minnesota, where they will be consulting and engaging with local initiatives this winter in preparation for the re-launch.
For both Bell and Eetak, the journey from initial concept to the forthcoming arts residency is a testament to their commitment to creative and cultural entrepreneurship and establishing new pipelines for youth leadership. Eetak reflected on the broader significance of the work they’ve been developing: “This is a platform for youth to learn, lead, and grow as artists while addressing real challenges in the community. We’re using creativity not just to make things, but to change lives, and that’s what’s so inspiring about this work.”
With their sights set on 2025, Bell and Eetak are excited to turn their vision into action, offering new pathways for artists to build their practice while strengthening the communities they serve. This next phase promises to showcase the power of collaboration, creative leadership, and self-reliance, ensuring that art remains a driving force for positive change in rural and northern communities.
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