Northern Ontario Arts, Creative Entrepreneurship, and Artist Development Program
The Art Borups Corners Spring and Summer Arts Incubator Program is a Northern Ontario arts incubator and professional development program based in Melgund Township and serving artists across rural and remote communities including Dyment and Borups Corners.
This program supports media artists, interdisciplinary creators, musicians, cultural workers, and emerging arts leaders in Northwestern Ontario and Far North communities, with a focus on arts-based economic development, creative entrepreneurship, and rural arts sustainability.
It is designed to strengthen the Northern Ontario arts ecosystem by providing training, mentorship, production support, and professional pathways that allow artists to build sustainable careers in their home communities.
About the Northern Ontario Arts Incubator Program
The Spring and Summer Arts Incubator Program is a community-led Northern Ontario arts development initiative focused on building long-term cultural infrastructure in remote, unorganized, and rural communities.
Led by the Art Borups Corners Collective, the program delivers arts incubator training, professional development workshops, and interdisciplinary creative programming that supports artists in developing both artistic practice and sustainable careers.
A core goal of this Northern Ontario arts program is to address artist out-migration by creating real opportunities for artists to live and work in their home communities. The program combines decolonized arts practice, community-based research, and creative entrepreneurship training to strengthen cultural resilience in Northwestern Ontario.
Arts Incubator Training, Workshops, and Creative Development
The program offers immersive arts incubator training in Northern Ontario, including workshops, seminars, and collaborative creative labs. Participants develop practical skills in:
- arts-based project development and production
- media arts, storytelling, and digital creation
- music, interdisciplinary arts, and cultural production
- grant writing and arts funding strategies
- governance, administration, and arts organization development
- digital distribution and online cultural platforms
This approach supports both artistic growth and economic sustainability, helping artists build viable careers in rural and remote regions of Northwestern Ontario.
Building a Sustainable Arts Economy in Northern Ontario
A key focus of the Melgund Township Arts Incubator Program is developing a sustainable rural and Northern Ontario arts economy. The program strengthens local creative infrastructure by supporting:
- arts entrepreneurship and self-employment pathways
- community-based cultural production and exhibitions
- local arts administration and leadership training
- regional arts collaboration and touring opportunities
- digital platforms for Northern artists and creators
By supporting creative entrepreneurship in Northern Ontario, the program helps ensure that artists can generate income, build audiences, and sustain long-term careers without leaving their communities.
Youth Leadership, Indigenous Arts, and Cultural Resilience
The program places strong emphasis on Indigenous arts leadership, youth mentorship, and intergenerational knowledge sharing. It supports artists from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous artists, Francophone creators, women artists, artists with disabilities, youth, and elders.
Through mentorship and collaborative practice, the program strengthens cultural continuity, oral history preservation, and community storytelling traditions while integrating contemporary digital and media arts practices.
This ensures that Northern Ontario arts development is grounded in cultural respect, accessibility, and community-led leadership.
Arts Infrastructure and Northern Arts Hub Development
Following the restoration of local facilities after the 2022 flood, the program is contributing to the development of a Northern Ontario arts and innovation hub in Melgund Township. This space supports:
- creative production and collaboration
- workshops and training sessions
- exhibitions and community showcases
- arts incubator programming and mentorship
- regional networking across Northwestern Ontario
This initiative reduces reliance on distant urban arts centres and strengthens local arts infrastructure in rural Northern Ontario communities.
Regional Partnerships and Collaborative Research
The program is supported by long-standing partnerships with regional and international collaborators, including applied research and creative entrepreneurship initiatives across circumpolar and rural regions.
We work with artists and organizations across Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Minnesota, Norway, and Nunavut, strengthening knowledge exchange in rural arts development, community cultural infrastructure, and creative economy building.
Locally, the program is supported by community organizations and regional partners including the Local Services Board of Melgund and the Dyment Recreation Hall.
Impact: Strengthening Northern Ontario Arts and Communities
The Melgund Township Spring and Summer Arts Incubator Program directly addresses the need for sustainable arts programming in Northwestern and Far North Ontario by supporting artists in unorganized and rural communities, including participation from surrounding areas such as Dryden and Ignace.
Immediate Impact
- access to professional arts training in Northern Ontario
- increased opportunities for exhibitions, commissions, and creative income
- strengthened networks across rural and remote arts communities
Long-Term Impact
- development of a self-sustaining Northern Ontario arts economy
- increased cultural employment and creative entrepreneurship
- preservation of Indigenous and local knowledge systems
- establishment of cooperative arts infrastructure and digital platforms
The program contributes to long-term rural cultural sustainability, economic resilience, and creative sector development in Northwestern Ontario.
Join the Northern Ontario Arts Incubator Program
We welcome participation from artists, cultural workers, researchers, educators, and organizations interested in Northern Ontario arts development, creative entrepreneurship, and community-based cultural programming.
We are actively seeking partnerships that support:
- arts incubator programming in rural and remote communities
- Indigenous and community-led arts development
- creative economy and cultural infrastructure building
- applied arts research and interdisciplinary collaboration
- youth arts leadership and mentorship programs
Contact Us
If you are interested in collaborating on Northern Ontario arts programming, funding partnerships, or creative research initiatives, we invite you to connect with us.
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