Focus Group

AI & Arts Orgs - Efficiency Without Compromise?

A focus group about AI for arts organizations

Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026, 12 - 1:30pm in person at 137 Water St, 2nd floor

Join Business & Arts NL and Get Building’s Jan Mertlik for lunch and a conversation around if, when and how arts organizations might use AI tools without stepping outside the bounds of our ethical, cultural, and organizational priorities. 

We’ll examine real-world use cases to explore how to eliminate busy work and make space for an honest conversation about how to balance the opportunities and potential harms presented by AI tools. 

Register now! This invitation is open to representatives from arts nonprofits. It will take place in person at Get Building headquarters, 170 Water St. and lunch will be provided. 

Focus Group

Can AI help artists, safely?

A focus group about AI for individual artists

Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026, 12 - 1:30pm via zoom

Aetherlabs, a NL-based startup building tools and resources for artists, is developing materials focused on helping individual artists from all disciplines explore if, when, and how to use AI tools to streamline their work. In this project, they're focused on simplifying self-promotion activities in social media without compromising creative integrity. 

Artists who practice any discipline (visual arts, music, theatre, dance, writing, multidisciplinary arts, and more) are invited to join this focus group, where we'll engage in conversation, walk through a drafted presentation and share feedback. The goal of this focus group is to a) provide the Aetherlabs team with feedback on the materials and approach being taken and b) engage in honest conversation around how to balance the opportunities and potential harms presented by AI tools. 

This conversation will take place online, via zoom. Registration is required.

Call for Interactive Artworks - Creativity & Innovation Summit

Submission deadline: July 27, 2026

Artist fees: $2,500 (+HST if applicable)

The Summit

The 2026 (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit will take place at the Sheraton Hotel on November 5, and will welcome 200–250 participants from across the private, public, and creative sectors. The annual Summit features speakers, networking opportunities, and experiences designed to explore creativity and spark new connections among people with a wide variety of work backgrounds and interests. Artists and their worldview and expertise are placed at the heart of this conversation. We’re seeking artists/artist teams to create and present hands-on, participant-driven experiences that take place throughout the day and encourage conversation and connection between attendees. 

Project Brief

The event is focused on the value of creativity to individuals, workplaces, and society. These activities, interspersed between more traditional opportunities to network, alongside inspiring speakers from various creative backgrounds, are an important driver of engagement and conversation at this event. One of the themes of this year’s Summit is games and play - we’re encouraging submissions that respond directly to this theme. 

We’re seeking activities that:

• Engender “creative confidence” (confidence in one’s own creativity)

• Start conversations

• Are unintimidating - an easy “nudge for participation”

• Spark participants curiosity or creativity 

• Are story catalysts, creating an experience that participants will talk about after they leave. 

Proposed activities may accomplish any of the following:

• A surprising way to share information or introduce yourself

• Play with data - for instance a form of data portrait, or present a creative and innovative way for Business & Arts to gather participant data or feedback 

• Result in a final piece/output that participants contribute to/co-create

• Provide something participants can individualize/make their own in dialogue with others

• Result in something participants can keep

Past activities that have debuted at the Summit have been purchased by other businesses and organizations for their own events. With this secondary goal of helping artists develop a market-ready product/experience in mind, Business & Arts NL will offer feedback and an opportunity to test the project with a focus group in advance of the Summit. 

Logistics

These projects could last mere seconds, or span several minutes. For instance, attendees at the 2024 Summit checked in by selecting a pin or pins that represented their creative strength/s, and another favourite project saw participants take a small clay fish and some paint back to their seat to paint while speakers were speaking, and later add it to a collective artwork facilitated by Daniel Rumbolt and Amber-Lynn Thorne. Elijah Martel created an illustrated journal of the day.  In 2025, participants played with Benjy Kean’s Motion Canvas, and added to a collective weaving project led by Rebecca Feaver. The length of time for instructions to be given should be minimal, so that participants can choose how much time they wish to spend engaging with the activity and networking. 

We aren’t able to mount works directly on the wall at the Sheraton, and so activities need to be free standing, displayed on a table, on easels etc, and activity materials must be easily transported and able to be set up early on the morning of the event.

Budget

$2,500* + HST (if applicable)

*Artist fee includes design of the activity, delivery/facilitation and participation in the Summit, and providing materials (bio, photos, artist statement) to support event marketing. The cost of materials will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1,000.

Eligibility

• Newfoundland and Labrador-based artists of any/all disciplines, which may include visual artists and craftspeople, designers, interdisciplinary artists, multimedia artists, installation artists, and artists whose practices focus on community participation or engagement. 

• Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are encouraged to apply

• Business & Arts NL is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. 

Selection 

The selected activity will be chosen by a small focus group of Summit stakeholders, based on the project’s anticipated impact, and how it fits within the overall program. 

Submission Requirements

Please submit the following, combined into a single pdf:

1. A short proposal outlining your interactive idea (max 500 words) including the cost of materials for 250 participants

2. A brief bio or CV

3. Up to 5 images of your previous work

4. A short note about why this opportunity interests you

Project Timeline

Proposals due: July 27, 2026

Selected artist will be notified by: August 11, 2026

Mid-point test run/feedback (see FAQ for details): Sept 25, 2026

Summit: Nov 5, 2026

Send your proposals to: Lynn Panting - lynn@businessandartsnl.com

Have questions or want to talk through your idea? Reach out to Lynn. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

• I don’t live in St. John’s - will travel expenses be provided if I’m selected?

  Yes, we will offer a travel stipend to cover kilometrage, accommodations and per diem for selected artists living outside of the Avalon Peninsula.

• Tell me more about the “Mid-point test run/feedback” in the project timeline?

  In order to ensure that your project fits well within the flow, messaging, and vibe of the Summit, we’ll get together on Sept 25 to talk through the setup, space/technical requirements, language, materials etc. We’ll provide any feedback we have and work together to ensure the project is set up for success and maximum impact with Summit attendees. There may be an opportunity to test the project with a small focus group as well. 

Call for Pop-up Performers - Creativity & Innovation Summit

Submission deadline: July 27, 2026

The Summit

The 2026 (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit will take place at the Sheraton Hotel on November 5, and will welcome 200–250 participants from across the private, public, and creative sectors. The annual Summit features speakers, networking opportunities, and experiences designed to explore creativity and spark new connections across sectors. Artists and their worldview and expertise are placed at the heart of this conversation. We’re seeking short performances to add a spark of surprise, moment of contemplation, or burst of energy to the day. 

Project Brief

We’re seeking performances from any discipline, including music, dance, theatre, standup comedy, and multidisciplinary arts. Performances should:

• Be short (2-8 minutes), taking place as the event starts, during breaks, or as a surprise mid-morning. 

• Be refreshing, offering attendees the opportunity to be surprised and inspired by something they wouldn't otherwise encounter at a work event.

And may:

• Offer an element of participation or interactivity for Summit attendees

• Respond to the theme of play and games

• Respond to the Summit theme of (un)common threads

Logistics

This event is taking place in the Garden Atrium and Main Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel, with set up taking place exclusively the morning of the event, which starts at 8:30am. Equipment setup must therefore be fairly minimal and will be the responsibility of the performer(s). 

Budget

Our total budget for performances is $3000. Please provide a requested performance fee in your submission. 

Eligibility

• Newfoundland and Labrador-based artists of any/all performing disciplines.

• Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are encouraged to apply

• Business & Arts NL is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. 

Selection 

The selected activity will be chosen by a small focus group of Summit stakeholders, based on the project’s anticipated impact, and how it fits within the overall program. 

Submission Requirements

Please submit the following, combined into a single pdf:

1. A short proposal outlining your interactive idea (max 500 words) 

2. A brief bio or CV

3. Up to 5 images/clips of your previous work

4. A short note about why this opportunity interests you

5. Your requested performance fee

Project Timeline

Proposals due: July 27, 2026

Selected artist(s) will be notified by: August 11, 2026

Summit: Nov 5, 2026

Send your proposals to: Lynn Panting - lynn@businessandartsnl.com

Have questions or want to talk through your idea? Reach out to Lynn.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• I don’t live in St. John’s - will travel expenses be provided if I’m selected?

  Yes, we will offer a travel stipend to cover kilometrage, accommodations and per diem for selected artists living outside of the Avalon Peninsula.