Creative Spaces Mentoring Network 2023 Cohort

This program, dedicated to supporting arts and culture organizations, provided mentorship opportunities to individuals seeking to improve their capacity to manage and sustain creative spaces.

About the Program

Established in 2013 by ArtsBuild Ontario, CSMN aims to strengthen the arts sector by providing one-on-one mentorship experiences to arts leaders across Canada. In 2023 Artsbuild expanded outside Ontario by introducing a pilot cohort in Calgary, Alberta. Participants engaged in a year-long mentorship journey during which they received guidance, insights, and skills enhancement from experienced professionals in the field. As a result, this program offered a unique opportunity for mentees to collaborate with mentors who had excelled in managing and sustaining arts infrastructure and community engagement projects.

2023 Cohort Highlights

The 2023 cohort featured an impressive lineup of mentors and mentees, encompassing a diverse array of disciplines and backgrounds. To begin with, mentors for the 2023 program included experienced leaders like Alex Sarian, President + CEO of Arts Commons, Sara Leishman, Executive Director of the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and Kate Zago, Planner 2 with The City of Calgary; experts in areas such as creative space development, strategic planning, and community outreach.

Comparatively, the mentees selected for this cohort represented a cross-section of Calgary’s vibrant arts scene, including representatives from visual arts, music, theatre, and interdisciplinary fields. From there, these diverse individuals were chosen for their passion and potential to impact their communities positively. As a result, mentees included cSPACE resident organizations Brian Batista of Atelier Artista, and Miguel Cortines of Casa Mexico. Furthermore, the cohort also included local arts dynamos Doug McKeag (BonnyBoom), and Dwight Farahat (Tribe Artist Collective) as well as participants of cSPACE’s new SPACEPILOT meanwhile lease initiative, Bethel Afework (The Alcove Centre for the Arts), and Chris Maric (One Big Jam).

Support and Impact

The 2023 cohort was supported by Calgary Arts Development, an organization dedicated to fostering arts in Calgary through funding and advocacy, as well as cSPACE Projects, which focuses on developing spaces that support creativity and innovation. This collaboration highlighted the importance of nurturing the arts sector by providing essential resources and mentorship to emerging leaders.

Consequently, through the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network, the 2023 cohort fostered a robust and sustainable arts ecosystem in Canada. This effort ensures that creative spaces continue to thrive and inspire communities for years to come.

Looking Forward

As the 2023 cohort completed this transformative journey, they reflected on their learning and growth, shared their experiences, and contributed to the vibrant tapestry of Canada’s arts landscape. The impact of this mentorship program was seen in the enhanced capacity of these individuals to manage creative spaces, ensuring the arts continue to flourish in communities across the country.

Pictured: Joni Carroll, Consultant with Calgary Arts Development (CADA) and Alex Glass, Executive Director of ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO)