Reflecting on Past Programs & Setting Intentions
As we begin our fall and winter 2024-2025 mentorship program, we took some time to review the key experiences and lessons from last spring and summer’s programs. The team members reflected on what went well, what could be better, and how we could build on our past successes.
One important takeaway was the need for continuity. Using earlier projects as a foundation will lead to deeper engagement and growth. We talked about specific themes and activities, drawing from what we learned last summer in the Indigenous Intellectual Property Protection Program.
Additionally, we discussed how to bring more arts into activities focused on food security and relationship development. These activities were part of our summer program, which received funding from Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This funding enabled some of the team members to travel to Norway for the 2024 Arctic Congress. We want to build on those international dialogues to shape the next version of our mentorship program.
We also went through our server statistics to see what kinds of content people look at. One of the cool terms we did not think about was the AI Food Art Friday posts being so popular. We had done those posts as an activity over the spring and summer program to help learn more about prompt literacy and using the OpenAI tools, but it turned out to be fun. Also, a lot of people search for those kinds of terms. The team talked about making sure we started that up again this fall and that maybe we could also include actual recipes to go along with the different fusions of art and images that we create. They’re also fun and easy to do. Jamie and Tony will take turns posting one each Friday.
A special thank you goes to Jamie Bell and Tony Eetak for their guidance in these discussions. They helped us honor the lessons from past initiatives and set a clear path forward. One outcome from our discussions is the desire to build on what we talked about in August regarding Gamification. We are thinking of how we can integrate that into our virtual gallery project this fall and winter. Jamie will meet with Terri and Maurice about the music festival and to start helping the arts collective in Northwestern Ontario get started on their artist profiles next month.
Our meetings will take place every Tuesday, and all are welcome to join us. In the next session, we will connect with some collaborators from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. We will discuss models for a ‘Community of Care and Practice.’ During this session, Jamie led a talk about the importance of planning and setting clear goals for the activities in the spring.
Jamie emphasized that we should build on what we learned from previous experiences while being ready for new challenges. He encouraged everyone to think ahead and align their efforts with the broader goals of the community. This alignment will ensure that our spring program is both significant and impactful.
Jamie also shared strategies for creating a timeline and organizing resources. He stressed the importance of setting realistic milestones. His guidance helped everyone understand how crucial clear planning is to maximize the effectiveness of our upcoming initiatives.
About our Winter 2025 program
Our fall and winter 2025 program in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is focused on exploring the intersection of digital skills, storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, and leadership in the arts. We’re dedicated to equipping artists with the tools and knowledge to navigate the evolving digital landscape, empowering them to bring their creative visions to life in new, innovative ways. This program is a space for collaboration and growth, where artists can sharpen their digital skills, explore the potential of emerging technologies, and build the leadership capabilities needed to drive their own creative ventures forward. This year’s program activities are supported by the OpenAI Researcher Access Program. We meet every week in person and virtually and all are welcome. To join us, contact us at info@artsincubator.ca
