Arts Ottawa hosted innovative Learning and Co-Creation Labs that brought together interest holders, sector experts, the arts community and staff to explore governance models that center artists, with advocacy, equity, and volunteerism playing pivotal roles in shaping leadership structures.
The three Learning Labs we held between February and April served as an introduction to themes such as governance, advocacy, artist leadership, trust-building, and cross-sector collaboration. Participants reimagined traditional governance approaches, explored strategies to strengthen collective advocacy efforts, and heard from policy experts, grassroots organizers, and sector leaders who are reshaping governance and advocacy frameworks. These hands-on sessions bridged sector-wide learning with localized, actionable solutions.
Learn more about each Learning Lab
LEARNING LAB #1: Governance Models and Advocacy in the Arts Sector
In this lab, we explored how shifting political landscapes, rising costs, and systemic inequities are reshaping the arts sector.
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LEARNING LAB #2: Artists as Community Leaders
This Learning Lab explored the ways in which artists drive systemic change and lead community development to create meaningful change in society.
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LEARNING LAB #3: Redefining Volunteerism in Governance
In this Lab, we examined the decline in volunteerism and its impact on arts governance, from leadership challenges to increased workloads.
Building on that foundation, the Co-Creation Labs held on April 24th and 26th invited participants to collaboratively bring those insights to life. Over 4.5-hour interactive sessions, artists, community organizers, and arts advocates co-designed a governance model rooted in inclusive decision-making. Creative tools like café-style speed dating, visual storytelling, and consensus-building helped shape a shared leadership structure for Arts Ottawa. Together, we co-created a Governance Charter grounded in community values—ensuring leadership that is transparent, accountable, and artist-centered.
These labs were designed not only to imagine new systems but to build them—reflecting the vibrant, diverse, and evolving arts community we serve. This work directly shaped how the Core Leadership Circle (CLC) and Community Advisory Members (CAM) were formed, recruited, and are run.