Arts & Creative Leadership

Here, we cultivate arts and creative leadership through participatory, arts-based community initiatives. We offer news, features and stories on developing essential skills such as collaboration, innovative thinking, and effective communication, empowering artists and communities to lead with creativity and purpose. Through hands-on training, mentorship, and community engagement, we provide opportunities to build confidence, foster resilience, and drive social impact. Connecting artistic practices with leadership development, we prepare individuals to inspire change and strengthen their communities through the transformative power of the arts.

What’s Next for PR? future-of-ai-and-public-relations

What’s Next for PR?

Jamie Bell April 14, 2025

The latest ICCO World PR Report for 2024-2025 paints a picture of an industry that's holding steady—even...

Showcasing the Impact of Self-Initiated Community Projects Self-initiated projects, from grassroots zines to cultural festivals, have the power to reshape communities. These bottom-up efforts address local needs, foster creativity, and build stronger bonds. Discover the role of micro-grants and community incubators in turning passion into lasting impact.

Self-initiated projects, from grassroots zines to cultural festivals, have the power to reshape communities. These bottom-up efforts address local needs, foster creativity, and build stronger bonds. Discover the role of micro-grants and community incubators in turning passion into lasting impact.

Showcasing the Impact of Self-Initiated Community Projects

Jamie Bell April 10, 2025

From independent zines to local festivals and skill-sharing workshops, grassroots community projects fuel connection and creativity.

Art, the Power of Third Places and Informal Economies Behind every thriving creative space is an unseen web of exchange. Whether it’s bartering mural work for studio time or musicians sharing gear, informal economies power the arts in ways that grants and galleries can’t. Dive into the grassroots systems keeping creativity alive.

Behind every thriving creative space is an unseen web of exchange. Whether it’s bartering mural work for studio time or musicians sharing gear, informal economies power the arts in ways that grants and galleries can’t. Dive into the grassroots systems keeping creativity alive.

Art, the Power of Third Places and Informal Economies

Jamie Bell April 9, 2025

Where creativity meets community, resilience thrives. From underground art markets to skill-sharing circles, informal creative economies are...

We Make the Path by Walking What if the future of leadership isn't found in boardrooms, but in backyards, art studios, and shared meals? This piece invites a shift in how we see power, community, and the kinds of change that last.

What if the future of leadership isn't found in boardrooms, but in backyards, art studios, and shared meals? This piece invites a shift in how we see power, community, and the kinds of change that last.

We Make the Path by Walking

Jamie Bell April 8, 2025

Real change starts with what’s already here.

Volunteerism is Down. Now What? As traditional volunteer roles fade, a new wave of grassroots care is rising—from mutual aid to micro-volunteering. Here’s how everyday people are reshaping what it means to show up for each other.

As traditional volunteer roles fade, a new wave of grassroots care is rising—from mutual aid to micro-volunteering. Here’s how everyday people are reshaping what it means to show up for each other.

Volunteerism is Down. Now What?

Jamie Bell April 7, 2025

The future of community care isn’t about overwork—it’s about reciprocity, rest, and real connection.

Leading from the Edge When artists lead, systems shift. Learn how makers, volunteers, and young people are stepping into roles of influence—reshaping communities through imagination, shared values, and bold, grassroots ideas that traditional leadership often overlooks.

When artists lead, systems shift. Learn how makers, volunteers, and young people are stepping into roles of influence—reshaping communities through imagination, shared values, and bold, grassroots ideas that traditional leadership often overlooks.

Leading from the Edge

Jamie Bell April 6, 2025

Leadership isn’t reserved for boardrooms anymore. From kitchen tables to community art studios, a new kind of...

The Rise of the Passion Economy In a world where passion fuels progress, creative entrepreneurs are transforming local economies. From handmade goods to digital content, these businesses offer a new, meaningful path to success and sustainability.

In a world where passion fuels progress, creative entrepreneurs are transforming local economies. From handmade goods to digital content, these businesses offer a new, meaningful path to success and sustainability.

The Rise of the Passion Economy

Jamie Bell April 5, 2025

The passion economy is reshaping how we work, where creativity leads the way, turning small ideas into...

When the Old Economy Fades — Creative Work as a Way Through In Northwestern Ontario and beyond, the collapse of local arts collides with toxic influencer culture. This article reveals how grassroots creativity can restore community and resist the pressures of digital disintegration.

In Northwestern Ontario and beyond, the collapse of local arts collides with toxic influencer culture. This article reveals how grassroots creativity can restore community and resist the pressures of digital disintegration.

When the Old Economy Fades — Creative Work as a Way Through

Jamie Bell April 4, 2025

As arts groups decline and influencer culture grows, communities across Canada face disconnection. This piece explores how...

Sustaining the Vision: Funding, Collaboration, and the Future of Arts-Based Recreation The Future is Creative: A vibrant future for our communities requires a sustained commitment to the arts. Explore innovative funding models and collaborative approaches that will secure the vision of arts-based community rejuvenation for generations to come.

The Future is Creative: A vibrant future for our communities requires a sustained commitment to the arts. Explore innovative funding models and collaborative approaches that will secure the vision of arts-based community rejuvenation for generations to come.

Sustaining the Vision: Funding, Collaboration, and the Future of Arts-Based Recreation

Jamie Bell March 28, 2025

Short-term projects can spark change, but lasting impact requires careful planning and sustained resources. Discover the strategies...

The Future of Self-Managed Arts: Lessons & Next Steps This week’s article explores the growing trend of self-managed arts spaces, highlighting best practices, challenges, and visions for a sustainable, non-hierarchical arts ecosystem. The future of artist-run initiatives is collaborative, resourceful, and empowering. Read on for lessons from successful collective-driven projects.

This week’s article explores the growing trend of self-managed arts spaces, highlighting best practices, challenges, and visions for a sustainable, non-hierarchical arts ecosystem. The future of artist-run initiatives is collaborative, resourceful, and empowering. Read on for lessons from successful collective-driven projects.

The Future of Self-Managed Arts: Lessons & Next Steps

Digital Salvage March 25, 2025

The future of self-managed arts involves shifting to non-hierarchical structures, overcoming challenges, and building sustainable, inclusive creative...