Ponds

Nurture creative wisdom and wellbeing in all realms of life.

We are devoted to cultivating the capacity of arts and culture to nurture wellbeing in five distinct yet deeply interconnected realms of life. These realms reflect our commitment to cultivating environments that elevate diverse perspectives and experiences in meaningful ways, including:

Sustain authenticity (in real life)

Sustain authentic human connections in real life by cultivating creative spaces that deepen trust between diverse groups in communities across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.  

While trust is crucial for strong communities, people need to feel safe, valued, and respected before trust can form naturally.  Without trust, addressing social inequities and creating inclusive environments is difficult.

We seek to sustain spaces that cultivate trust between diverse groups across Canada, nurturing environments where real and authentic connections can grow. Guided by wise practices from arts and culture, we support face-to-face trust-building dialogues locally, regionally, and nationally.

Our approach includes small storytelling circles that strengthen safety and healing in local groups. As comfort grows, we co-design larger regional gatherings to enhance awareness, empathy, and collaboration. We also encourage spontaneous interactions that unite diverse communities in meaningful ways. This journey involves slow, thoughtful conversations, culminating in national exchanges that strengthen respect and reciprocity across various divides. Through these efforts, we nurture environments where genuine connections can thrive, promoting inclusivity and understanding throughout Canada. 

Empower ingenuity (in virtual life)

Empower ingenuity in virtual life by strengthening the responsible use of digital technology and infrastructure with gig workers and other low-income groups locally and globally.

Creativity and innovation in virtual spaces is essential for breaking down barriers to artistic and cultural opportunities. While it is important to address the harmful aspects of new technologies like artificial intelligence, these tools also have to potential to help strengthen economic independence, enhance social inclusion, and stimulate innovative thinking, creating a thriving community where everyone benefits from the digital economy.

We seek to cultivate environments where the ethical and responsible use of digital technology and infrastructure flourishes. Guided by arts and culture, we focus on human-centered collaborations with gig workers and low-income groups across Canada and globally.
Our approach includes advocating for digital practices that protect privacy, promote fairness, and benefit all members of society. We will co-create essential tools and training to bridge skill gaps, enhance digital access, address ethical concerns, and cultivate global connections. These efforts are crucial for building an inclusive and caring society, celebrating diversity, and championing equitable growth.

Preserve vitality (in natural life)

Preserve vitality in natural life by empowering the potential of arts and culture to guide actions that safeguard all living things against environmental threats.

Preserving the vitality of the natural world is crucial for our collective wellbeing and survival, providing the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Biodiversity supports ecosystems that regulate climate, purify water, and pollinate crops, while natural spaces offer solace, inspiration, and connection.

We seek to harness the power of arts and culture to enhance environmental stewardship, addressing climate change, freshwater degradation, and other issues. By supporting creative initiatives that highlight environmental themes, we aim to engage communities in meaningful dialogue about their relationship with nature.

Our approach includes expanding awareness of how arts and culture can harm the environment through unsustainable practices, resource consumption, pollution, habitat disruption, carbon footprints from tourism and transportation, and deforestation for supplies. As a digital organization, we are also mindful of the environmental impact of digital infrastructure on land, electricity, and water use. To mitigate these impacts, we will focus on creative ways to advocate for improving efficiency, adopting renewable energy, and implementing water-saving technologies. This will involve developing artistic and educational programs and campaigns that inspire sustainable living, empower individuals to take part in preserving our planet, and ensure that the vitality of natural life endures for generations to come.

Manifest hope (in dream life)

Manifest hope in dream life by amplifying the power and promise of justice-deserving communities to imagine and create aspirational futures where ecosystems of care flourish.

Hope drives creativity and purpose. Free from everyday pressures, both conscious and unconscious dreams nurture hope by inspiring better futures, making sense of harmful experiences, and reinforcing positive memories and values. This imaginative space is crucial for motivating transformative social change.

We seek to manifest hope with justice-deserving groups in arts and culture by drawing upon the power of a dynamic dream life to imagine and create aspirational futures where ecosystems of care can flourish and grow. 
Our approach includes supporting creative dialogues that encourage dream exploration, creating opportunities and platforms for shared artistic and cultural narratives that inspire hope, and other related activities. 

Honour legacy (in ancestral life)

Honour legacy in ancestral life by uplifting those who steward and share the wisdom, traditions, stories, languages, and cultures of our ancestors, ensuring their vibrant continuity for future generations.

Legacy includes the wisdom, traditions, stories, languages, and cultures that shape our individual and collective identities. Honouring and caring for these essential gifts connects us to the countless generations that precede and follow us, strengthening continuity and pride across the flow of time.

We seek to enhance the capacity of legacy keepers from justice-deserving communities to protect and share the value of their ancestral wisdom with future generations in arts and culture. At every step, it is vital to ensure that any representation of their legacy accurately reflects their history and culture, avoiding cultural appropriation, seeking consent for using cultural symbols and stories, and ensuring efforts are genuine and not tokenistic.

Our approach is to implement sustainable practices for long-term preservation and education of the public about the history, struggles, and contributions of diverse cultural ancestors. We will fairly compensate community members for their time and knowledge, promote intergenerational engagement, support the preservation of languages, and address past injustices by advocating for reparative actions.