Jamie Bell is a long-time advocate for community-based arts and participatory research, with a career spanning nearly three decades across the arts, media, and communications sectors. His work centres on building stronger relationships through culturally grounded outreach, creative engagement, and northern-led collaboration. His work has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Manitoba Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts among others.
Jamie is a founding member and frequent collaborator with the Art Borups Corners, Digital Salvage and the @1860 Winnipeg Arts Collective. He was also a founding member of the Arviat Film Society and Arviat Television—established with the support of Isuma TV’s Digital Indigenous Democracy Project. His past collaborations include the SSHRC-funded Nanisiniq Arviat History Project, Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic, and the ArcticNet-supported Inclusion in Northern Research initiative.
Jamie’s work has been featured in publications and broadcasts including TIME, CPAC, The Globe and Mail, Nunatsiaq News, CBC Igalaaq, and CBC Radio North.
He has supported convening presentations and sessions at numerous national and international events, including:
- Global Dignity Day (2020, 2021, 2022)
- National Kindness Week (2022, 2023)
- Arctic Change (2020) and ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting (2021)
- Arctic Science Summit Week (2021 – Lisbon, Portugal; 2023 – Vienna, Austria)
- Auviqsaqtut Inuit Studies Conference (2022) – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 2024 Arctic Congress in Bodø, Norway
- University of Victoria Community Based Research Lab (2024)
In 2024–2025, Jamie’s work is supported through the OpenAI Researcher Access Program, enabling deeper exploration of AI’s role in community engagement, digital storytelling, and equity-centered research tools.
Areas of Practice & Interest
- Community-based arts facilitation
- Participatory research design & storytelling
- Indigenous knowledge systems & digital media
- Workshop development and delivery
- Strategic advising for northern/non-urban-led arts projects
- Collaborative media arts (film, radio, print)
- International presentations or conferences
Let’s Collaborate
Jamie is open to collaborations with artists, researchers, educators, and organizations working in urban, remote and northern communities, particularly in projects rooted in equity, cultural knowledge, and creative engagement.
About the Author
