COLLABORATIVE R&D LABS:
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
About
CultureSource introduces the Collaborative R&D Labs: Southeast Michigan (“Labs”), a program for leaders in the region’s arts and culture sector, funded by the Knight Foundation. This program provides a unique platform for leaders to explore and experiment with digital tools, learn methods for staying ahead of advances in the rapidly changing digital environment, and achieve proficiency in integrating such changes into operations.
Increasing Organizational Capacity
As new technology emerges, it can be difficult for arts and culture organizations to stay on the forefront of that change. By fostering collaborative research and development (R&D) among arts organizations, the program’s Labs help leaders to navigate the complexity of adopting new technology into an organization. Through workshops, the pooling of resources, and sharing of knowledge, participants will explore digital tools that enhance artistic practices, streamline operations, and deepen audience engagement. Participating organizations will also receive funding to help mitigate the risks of implementing new technology in their practice.
Who Should Apply?:
- Organizations committed to exploring digital innovation and driving change.
- Organizations that can engage fully in labs and explore ideas independently.
- Organizations that have bandwidth to participate in a 3 year journey (3 half-day Labs per year over 3 years) to increase their digital skills and capacity.
- Organizations that may face challenges with implementing new technologies to achieve maximum operational efficiency, such as:
- Small to Mid-Sized Arts Organizations – Limited IT resources can make adopting new technologies challenging, but the right tools can enhance efficiency and audience engagement.
- Legacy Arts Institutions – Deeply established workflows can slow digital adoption, yet integrating new tools can modernize operations while preserving artistic traditions.
- Community-Based Arts Collectives – Limited funding and technical access can be barriers, but strategic digital solutions can expand reach and impact.
Program Structure
Process:
All participants begin with Track 1, during which they will have the option to build on their experience and increase their funding by moving on to Tracks 2 and 3. Each Track has its own focus and outcomes. Each is designed to foster collaboration, experimentation, and real-world learning for mastery of ongoing implementation of digital advances within participant organizations.
Track 1: Digital Discovery Labs
Track focus & Outcomes: Cohort building, skill building through tech workshops, collaboration with other organizations to work through complex problems.
Lab Topics:
- Emerging digital technologies
- Artificial Intelligence and its applications
- Audience Engagement
- Operations
Funding provided per participating organization: $1,000
Number of Labs: 9 half-day sessions held 3 times annually over 3 years
Cohort Size: Up to 29 individuals
Track 2: Leadership Practices for Digital Innovation
Track focus & Outcomes: Implementation of skills learned in Track 1, small experiments with radical intent. Participants expected to practice what they are learning and collaborate to work through problems, as well as to share what they’ve learned with the Track 1 cohort.
Funding provided per participating organization: $3,000
Number of Labs: 4 held over a period of 4 months
Cohort Size: Up to 12 organizations that participated in Track 1 (with several individuals per organization required)
Track 3: Organizational Practices for Digital Innovation
Track focus & Outcomes: Implementation of skills learned in Tracks 1 and 2. The actual practice of organizational development, with continued support from a peer network and professional consulting services.
Funding provided per participating organization: $25,000
Structure of Labs:
- Phase 1: 3 full-day labs
- Phase 2: 3-day intensive lab
- Phase 3: 3 follow-up meetings
Cohort Size: Up to 5 organizations that participated in Track 2 (with several individuals per organization required)
Program Timeline Overview
Eligibility and Progression:
Participants may join Track 1 only, or may apply to advance to Tracks 2 & 3.
Track 1 is the foundational hub, with participants from all tracks continuing to engage in its annual sessions over 3 years.
- Lab 1: April 10, 2025
- Lab 2: June 5, 2025
Track 2 is a 4 month program to develop leadership skills and implement experiments.
- Begins October 2025
- Members of Track 2 cohort must participate in Track 1 and report findings back to Track 1 cohort.
Track 3 begins after the conclusion of Track 2 in Summer 2026.
- Participants implement digital solutions in programmatic, administrative, or audience engagement areas.
- Members of Track 3 cohort must participate in Tracks 1 & 2.
Apply
Track 1 applications now open. The first Labs will be held in April and June 2025 with more dates to be announced.
Application deadline: March 10, 2025
Apply
Learn More
Questions?
Contact Program Manager Goode Wyche at [email protected]
Join us in building a digitally collaborative future for the Southeast Michigan arts community with the Collaborative R&D Labs!
In Memoriam
EmcArts co-founder and long-time president Richard Evans passed away in 2022 after battling an aggressive cancer. Before his passing, Richard spearheaded the integration of EmcArts into CultureSource—securing a permanent Southeast Michigan home for the practice of adaptive changemaking that he pioneered in the cultural sector.
EmcArts, a social enterprise for innovation and adaptive change in the arts, worked for over 20 years to strengthen the capacity of arts leaders and organizations. Richard designed and implemented a sustained series of groundbreaking initiatives designed to help arts organizations design and manage innovation and adapt to changing environments.
CultureSource is dedicated to honoring Richard’s legacy by continuing his work of ensuring the sustained vitality of our most cherished arts organizations.