Work in Culture has partnered with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, and with support from the Government of Canada, to help create work-integrated learning, or WIL, opportunities in the arts for post-secondary students.
WIL opportunities bridge the classroom and the workplace by helping students build meaningful career pathways, while also aiding employers in addressing skills, talent, and innovation gaps.
As part of this initiative in partnership with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), in 2024–2025 Work in Culture worked closely with the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) to offer innovative WIL experiences to over 400 undergraduate students in UTSC’s Arts Management programs.
These WIL experiences were designed in partnership with UTSC to help students navigate the range of career options and workplaces in arts and culture.
You can read summaries of the three in-person industry events we held during UTSC’s 2024 winter, spring, and fall terms for highlights and takeaways:
If you have any questions or would like more information about WIL opportunities or this initiative, please contact Stephanie Draker, Program Manager at [email protected].
Resources for Students
WEBINAR: OVERVIEW OF THE ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEWCOMERS
This webinar provides an overview of career pathways in the arts and culture sector. Whether you’re a student, a newcomer, or someone looking to transition into the arts and culture sector, this webinar has helpful information for those looking to start or build a creative practice, provide arts management support for arts organizations, or explore entrepreneurship or social enterprise. Watch the webinar here.
WEBINAR: GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEWCOMERS
This webinar provides an overview of the grant and funding landscape for the arts and culture sector, highlighting the major granting and funding bodies as well as opportunities available to newcomer and immigrant artists and arts professionals specifically. Watch the webinar here.
WEBINAR: DITCH THE ELEVATOR PITCH – HONE YOUR AUTHENTIC STORY AND CREATIVE CAREER PATH
In this webinar, career coach Betty Xie discusses how to hone your story and creative career path. Learn how to gain internal clarity for your career moves and position yourself externally to potential employers and projects. Watch the webinar here.
WEBINAR: NAVIGATING THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS IN THE ARTS
In this webinar, HR professionals Mike Rudolph and Stef Rigada share some good practices and tips for navigating the job posts and applications in arts and culture, including advice on cover letters, resumes, and preparing for an interview. Watch the webinar here.
TIPS AND TEMPLATES: GROWING CREATIVE CAREERS
As part of our Growing Creative Careers program, we’ve put together a collection of downloadable resources to help any artist or creative professional looking to build their capacity and grow their creative career, from creating an artist or business statement to drafting a project timeline, budget chart, SWOT assessment, and more. View and download the resources here.
RESOURCE: THE WORK IN CULTURE JOB BOARD
Whether you’re looking for your next great career opportunity in the arts, or researching jobs and career pathways in the sector, the Work in Culture Job Board is Canada’s #1 hub for arts and culture careers and a go-to resource to help grow your creative career. There are new jobs and opportunities posted daily. Visit the Job Board here.
Resources for Employers
RESOURCE: BUSINESS + HIGHER EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE’S WIL HUB
Work-integrated learning, or WIL, can take many forms, from structured work placements as part of a diploma or degree program, to more flexible co-curricular experiences and new models like micro placements, virtual projects, and competitions. Learn how innovative WIL experiences like these can help small and medium-sized employers access new talent and ideas. Visit BHER’s WIL Hub here.
TIPS AND TEMPLATES: FUTURE OF WORK
Future of Work is a suite of practical HR tools for arts and culture organizations of all sizes, with free downloadable HR templates that can be customized for use in your own organization or company. There are tools and templates for talent acquisition, including talent reviews, talent mapping, and succession planning; and talent retention, including performance reviews and performance improvement plans. View and download the resources here.
RESOURCE: THE WORK IN CULTURE JOB BOARD
The Work in Culture Job Board is a trusted resource for connecting arts and culture employers with highly skilled candidates. With over 25,000 visitors a month, the Job Board can help connect your opportunity with the perfect creative talent to join your team. Learn more about posting on the Job Board here.
About Business + Higher Education Roundtable
The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization bringing together some of Canada’s largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions. Since 2015, BHER has worked to harness the strengths of Canada’s business and post-secondary education sectors to build opportunities for young Canadians, boost innovation and drive collaboration. Learn more at bher.ca. Visit BHER’s WIL Hub for ways to explore, invest in and create quality WIL opportunities.
About Work in Culture
Work in Culture (WIC) is a non-profit arts service organization that advances the careers of artists, creatives, and cultural workers from diverse lived experiences, and supports the organizations that engage them, through entrepreneurial and business skills development and innovative research. Learn more at workinculture.ca.
If you have any questions about work-integrated learning opportunities in the arts, please contact:
Stephanie Draker
Program Manager
[email protected]