The Pathways Pilot Program launches...
A (new!) year-long process to support BC arts, culture, and heritage organizations to learn, reflect and integrate equity and access more deeply into their work.
“The Pathways program is open to arts, culture, and heritage non-profit organizations and collectives operating in the lands colonially known as British Columbia. It is intended for professionals/volunteers who are committed to reflecting, learning, and integrating more equitable practices into their organizations and work.
Pathways is designed to be impactful for organizations and individuals working in different contexts, with different interests, and at different points in their work towards equity. Our approach with Pathways is to support a community of learners with an individualized program that centres reflection and intentional action. We have structured this program to take place over a full year to allow time for supported learning-to-action cycles. We hope that after this program, participants will choose to integrate ongoing learning practices into their lives, work, and organizational policy.”
Key Things To Know:
Expression of Interest applications open Aug 3 and close on Sept 15, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis) with options for either Fall or Winter starts times;
Full timeline details & the online EOI application form can be found here.
Space is available for 70 organizations in the pilot year; 50% of the seats will be reserved for BCAC Operating Assistance clients; remaining seats will be open to BC-based arts, culture, and heritage organizations (funded by BCAC or not) and prioritized to ensure a diversity of participants.
Organizational Eligibility includes: be a BC-based arts, culture, or heritage non-profit organization or collective; have two people from the organization commit to the program for one year; commit to supporting participants in implementing more equitable practices into the organization. Note: participants will be required to commit to 5 hours per month.
Cost to Participate: “The pilot year of the Pathways program is operating on a mutual aid/community care model. Depending on the needs of your organization and the individuals involved, the cost of the program will be on a sliding scale ranging from small fee, to free, to receiving a stipend to participate.”
More info: a zoom information session was held on August 4, 2023. Please check the Pathways website after the August long weekend, when a recording of the session will be posted online.
Working towards equity and access is an ongoing process of personal, collective and systemic change. We imagine a vibrant arts sector in which people can bring their whole selves to their work – a future where people working in arts and culture organizations are supported, well compensated, and energized by their work. In this future empowered individuals in our sector follow a path of ongoing learning, reflecting, and integration.
This project is a generative and community-based process in partnership with the BC Arts Council (BCAC), with the shared objective to support organizations in creating more inclusive, accessible, and equitable work environments. Through fostering new relationships and supporting collective learning and action, we hope to help our sector move beyond saying it supports equity and access to put these principles into action.
Key features of the Pathways program include:
Individualized Learning Plan: Participants receive personalized support to create a plan tailored to their specific goals, context, and capacity.
Learning Opportunities and Resources: Access to a variety of learning opportunities, resources, and tools that are relevant to the participant’s context and preferred learning methods.
One-on-One Support: Participants have monthly one-on-one meetings with a Program Guide to discuss progress, challenges, and receive guidance.
Reflection and Implementation: Dedicated time and support are provided for participants to reflect on their learning and effectively integrate it into their work and organization.
Peer Community: Participants are connected to a community of learners and peers, allowing for shared experiences and mutual support.
Tracking Progress: Guided support is offered to help participants track their progress and the resulting organizational changes.
Foundation Elements of Pathways:
One-on-One Support: participants are matched with a Program Guide for the duration of the year;
Reflection: framework for self and organizational reflection, to apply learning, record your experience, and monitor program;
Integration: support in integrating learning back into your organization;
Learning Plan:
Structured Learning: synchronous and asynchronous learning, workshops, panels, online courses, toolkits, guides, worksheets etc.
Peer Cohort: an opportunity to connect with, and learn from your peers. Although it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.
Self-Directed Learning: this may include reading, podcasts, conversations, attending conferences or gatherings.
For full program information, vision & background, check out the Pathways website.