Building Cultural Sustainability: An Applied Research Model

Financial constraints are a significant barrier to sustainable practices within Canada’s cultural sector and especially within the performing arts. This situation has been exacerbated by COVID, with significant hits to economic impact and employment observed at the municipal level. In addition, physical space, digital fluency and access to technology are primary concerns for small/medium organizations. Higher Education Institutions have these features and technologies, and use them for applied education, academic conferences and hosting events. Greater collaboration between municipalities, small/medium-sized cultural organizations and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) would bring significant benefits to all three groups, while also generating sustainable financial and cultural practices. Making these spaces, technical resources, and expertise available to smaller cultural organizations will alleviate financial and programming pressures and create significant educational and cultural benefits. Access to space can be leveraged by HEIs to create work-integrated learning opportunities and field-placements for students. Smaller performing arts organizations can further build upon these connections to develop the technical skills required in a post-pandemic environment. By harnessing the expertise, skills and equipment available at HEIs, organizations can develop methods to take their programming beyond the local community and into the national or international arena.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jennifer Gordon

Student:

Partner:

City of Toronto;eCampus Ontario

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Public administration; Utilities

University:

Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Program: