Deadline: 17-Aug-2026
The Creative Enquiry Lab supports arts organizations and collectives in exploring innovative solutions to real organizational challenges.
The program uses a design-thinking model in collaboration with students from the Creative School’s Design Solutions Super Course at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
It focuses on improving how arts organizations operate, communicate, and develop programming through experimentation, prototyping, and co-creation.
Core Focus Areas
The program supports work in:
- Design thinking and creative problem-solving
- Organizational development in the arts sector
- Programming and artistic innovation
- Administration and operational improvement
- Marketing and outreach strategies
- Transdisciplinary collaboration
- Capacity building for arts organizations and collectives
- Innovation in arts ecosystems
How the Program Works
The initiative is built around collaboration between arts organizations and TMU students.
Key elements include:
- Students from diverse academic backgrounds work with arts organizations
- Organizations present real operational or strategic challenges
- Teams apply design-thinking methods to develop solutions
- Prototypes are created and tested collaboratively
- Outcomes are refined through iterative feedback
Program Structure and Timeline
The program runs for eight months (January to August) and is divided into two phases:
Phase 1 (January to April)
- Collaboration between organizations and student teams
- 10–15 hours of engagement per month
- Meetings, workshops, and classroom-based sessions
- Development and prototyping of solutions
- Public “Demo Day” presentation at TMU (April)
Phase 2 (April to August)
- Independent refinement of prototypes by organizations
- Continued development of solutions
- Peer-support cohort sessions led by the Program Manager
Funding Details
- Grant amount: $15,000 per project
- No formal budget submission required
- Recommended allocation:
- Two-thirds for project lead fees
- One-third for materials and implementation costs
What Applicants Must Propose
Applicants must clearly define:
- A current organizational challenge or question
- Relevance to programming, administration, outreach, or marketing
- Broader significance for the arts sector or community
- How leadership will participate in the process
- Potential for practical and innovative solutions
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to:
- Develop actionable solutions to organizational challenges
- Improve operational effectiveness in arts organizations
- Strengthen collaboration between students and professionals
- Generate scalable ideas for the wider arts sector
- Build innovation capacity within participating organizations
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Incorporated non-profit arts organizations in Toronto
- Unincorporated artist collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis in Toronto
Additional requirements:
- Collectives must have a bank account in the collective’s name
- Professional artists must show active practice and recognition in their field
Who is Not Eligible?
The following are not eligible:
- Organizations outside the City of Toronto
- Entities with outstanding final reports from prior programs
- Projects already funded by other Toronto Arts Council programs
- Organizations or collectives involving TMU faculty or staff
Key Conditions and Restrictions
Applicants must also comply with:
- Limits on repeat funding eligibility
- Reporting compliance requirements
- Program participation expectations
- Active engagement in design-thinking sessions
Why This Program Matters
The Creative Enquiry Lab strengthens the arts ecosystem by connecting academic innovation with real-world organizational challenges.
It helps:
- Improve sustainability of arts organizations
- Encourage experimentation and innovation
- Strengthen collaboration between students and professionals
- Build practical solutions for sector-wide challenges
- Enhance capacity in programming, outreach, and administration
Conclusion
The Creative Enquiry Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University is a structured innovation program that supports Toronto-based arts organizations with $15,000 in funding and collaborative design-thinking support. Through student partnerships and prototyping, the initiative helps organizations address real challenges and build stronger, more adaptive arts ecosystems.
For more information, visit Toronto Arts Council.
