Youth leadership pipelines in the arts are crucial for fostering the next generation of creative voices and community-driven initiatives. Providing mentorship, resources, and opportunities, we can ensure young artists have the support they need to thrive and lead.
In a bold step toward strengthening the arts sector in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, Art Borups Corners and its Winnipeg Arts Incubator program are set to launch a new summer artist residency in May 2025. This initiative, designed to nurture artistic talent and build sustainable arts infrastructure, comes on the heels of a successful pilot project in 2024. With fresh momentum, the program is evolving into a larger effort aimed at fostering governance structures, organizational development, and long-term capacity-building for artists and arts administrators alike.
This fall and winter, thanks to critical support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 program, the team has been refining the framework of the residency to ensure it serves as more than just a temporary creative retreat. The goal is clear: establish two teams working across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, creating a dynamic, cross-regional network that strengthens the arts sector from within. By investing in governance training, skills development, and sustainable organizational structures, the program aims to provide artists and arts leaders with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly challenging landscape.
Jamie Bell, a Winnipeg-based interdisciplinary artist and one of the driving forces behind the residency program, emphasizes the need for long-term sustainability in the arts sector,” he said. “This residency is about more than just giving artists space to create—it’s about building the structures that will sustain them for the long haul. We’re focused on strengthening governance, training, and leadership pathways so that emerging artists don’t just find their place in the sector but help shape its future.”
The initiative builds upon the highly successful Winnipeg Arts Incubator program, which was first launched in 2021-2022 with support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse program. That incubator proved to be a vital testing ground, demonstrating the impact that targeted mentorship and infrastructure support can have on emerging artists and cultural workers. It also underscored a stark reality: the post-pandemic arts world is in dire need of reinvention. Many non-profits and artist-run centers across Canada continue to struggle with funding instability, burnout, and the loss of key community spaces. More pressingly, the sector is facing a critical gap in leadership succession—many established arts organizations lack viable pathways for youth to step into decision-making roles, leaving them at risk of stagnation or collapse.
Tony Eetak, an emerging artist and youth leader actively involved in community-driven arts initiatives, highlighted the significance of the program for young creatives. He said, “Many young artists want to remain in their communities and create something lasting, but the pathways to do so aren’t always clear. This program is about providing the skills, networks, and support necessary to turn our ideas into real opportunities.”
Recognizing this, Art Borups Corners and the Winnipeg Arts Incubator are positioning the new residency program as a bridge between emerging artists and arts administration. Beyond providing time and space for artists to develop their craft, the residency will also emphasize professional development, equipping participants with skills in grant writing, project management, and community engagement. This dual approach—nurturing artistic practice while also reinforcing the administrative backbone of the sector—is key to ensuring that artists can not only create but also sustain their careers in a shifting economic and cultural environment.
With the launch date set for May 2025, excitement is building around what this residency could mean for the region. More than just an opportunity for artists to work in inspiring settings, the program represents a forward-thinking investment in the future of the arts sector—one that acknowledges both the creative and structural challenges of making art in Canada today. As the countdown begins, the teams behind Art Borups Corners and the Winnipeg Arts Incubator are determined to make this residency a model for how grassroots arts organizations can adapt, innovate, and lead the way in shaping the next generation of creative leaders.
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