The Yukon Arts Centre undertook a year-long engagement process, supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Yukon Government, bringing together Yukon-based not-for-profit arts organizations with year-round staff, charitable status, and active boards. The initiative was designed to foster meaningful dialogue around sustainable operations, succession planning, and building more secure organizational futures. Participation was intentionally focused on organizational leaders and decision-makers in order to concentrate the conversation and help activate deeper collaboration across the sector.
Led by facilitators Sarah Garton Stanley and Owais Lightwala, participants were engaged in advance and throughout a consultation period culminating in a two-day summit in February 2026. A research phase led by Ben Yu Schoot in early 2025 helped identify the summit’s objectives through direct conversations with stakeholders. We are now sharing the keynote address and reflections document both as a resource for those who were not part of the event to review key themes, and as a starting point to help maintain momentum and identify opportunities for collaboration and advocacy in an increasingly uncertain environment.