The Living Lab is a CreativePEI initiative delivered by SRL Solutions that provides training, group coaching, and mentoring support to 20 leaders in PEI’s Arts & Culture Sector.
This project was a direct response to the COVID-19 crisis and the significant impact it had on the Arts & Culture sector on PEI. The core of the Living Lab initiative is to reinforce that Arts & Culture organizations must first survive the pandemic for the Arts and Culture Sector to thrive once again.
The Lab supported participants by teaching how to plan and pivot in times of crisis, enhance critical thinking skills, negotiate, time management, stress management, and financial planning and management.
While the Lab was designed to support participants through the COVID-19 pandemic, the group also explored options for rebuilding and recovery.
Additionally, the Lab hosted two meetings with Innovation PEI to discuss potential changes to organizational operational plans and hosted a meeting with Canadian Heritage to learn more about their COVID- 19 response.
The program achieved its goals in creating a strong network of arts administrators and executives where peer-to-peer learning, partnerships, and collaborations can emerge.
PEI’s entire creative sector is in a much stronger position than it would have been if this program had not existed. Once the Living Lab project initially concluded, the participants were so eager for it to continue that CreativePEI has continued to contract SRL Solutions to deliver monthly Living Lab sessions using our own funds.