Calls for Submissions

As cultural institutions navigate accelerating change and increasing complexity, leaders can build personal and institutional capacity to meet the demands of an uncertain future.  Foresight can provide insight to make strategic planning more robust and resilient.

This program invites participants to grapple with some of the most strategic questions facing the sector: What emerging social, technological, economic and environmental changes could disrupt the cultural ecosystem? How could these disruptors shape cultural futures? How can cultural institutions respond to build a better future? This workshop will use foresight tools in a learning-by-doing process to facilitate a dialogue on the broad changes that lie ahead for the sector.

Description

Over six days, participants will use the tools of strategic foresight to deepen their capacity to think long-term, respond to disruption, and lead with purpose. Participants will explore how the cultural ecosystem could evolve and respond to the disruptive forces on the horizon, equipping them to better face the future(s).

The program involves hands-on workshops, strategic dialogue, and external speakers to challenge assumptions and expand horizons. Participants will leave with a powerful toolkit to lead boldly, think long-term, and create lasting cultural impact as they learn to use scanning, system mapping and vision-building with increasing confidence.

Program highlights

• Explore a range of futures and the challenges and opportunities that could emerge.
• Design visions and strategies that are resilient, adaptive, and future ready.
• Lead with purpose in rapidly changing and interconnected cultural ecosystems.

Requirements

This program is designed for arts, heritage, and creative industries professionals working in organizations of any size and across all art forms, including visual arts, galleries, museums, theatre, dance, opera, film, music, and literature.

It is well suited to:

• administrators, managers, and directors in arts and heritage organizations and creative industries
• creative producers and consultants working with arts organizations
• education and engagement specialists in these sectors
• artists (Indigenous, Canadian, and international)
• community-based arts and heritage workers in urban and rural settings

Limited funding is available.

Program Dates: Jun 21, 2026 – Jun 26, 2026