Last year, Calgary.tech covered the launch of Innovate Calgary’s Social Innovation Hub.
A partnership between the University of Calgary and Innovate Calgary, the Social Innovation Hub has been brewing since 2021.
The Hub aims to foster innovation through a range of programs and resources including mentorship, workshops, events, and access to funding.
This month, Innovate Calgary announced the launch of a new program within the SIH banner.
The inaugural Artist-in-Residence Pilot Program is an initiative “designed to explore the intersection of art and entrepreneurship.”
“Our mission is to foster a dynamic environment where artists and entrepreneurs can collaborate and inspire each other,” stated Chantal Palmer, Community Manager of Strategy and Engagement at the Social Innovation Hub.
The program will spotlight artists within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and inspire new ways of thinking to help social innovators tackle complex challenges through a new lens, according to Palmer.
“Artists bring fresh perspectives that act as catalysts for social change, helping to drive innovation and strengthen communities across Alberta,” the community manager said.
Selected artists will embark on entrepreneurial journeys while contributing their creative approaches to solving social problems, according to a statement from Innovate Calgary, highlighting the interconnectedness of art and economics with an ultimate goal “to examine how artistic practices can be used as powerful tools in venture development and community-building.”
The first artist selected for this pilot program is Sam Obadero, founder of Motif Photography.
Obadero founded Motif in Calgary after moving to Canada from Nigeria in 2018.
“My mission is clear: to inspire and empower, creating a welcoming and inclusive haven for art-preneurs,” stated Obadero.
People can visit the Social Innovation Hub in November to experience Obadero’s art installation.
Innovate Calgary was founded in 1986 to support the University of Calgary’s innovation community.
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