It’s been just over two weeks since #Imagining2080 and my mind is still buzzing. As one of the organizers, so far my reflections are more focused on the process and people that got us there, as I still continue to wrap my head around the magic that happened.

Using the power of the arts to collectively imagine a thriving arts sector in the future.

There are countless examples all around us that show us how our individual actions aren’t enough to create change. Some of us may have tried and got burned out along the way. In the end, it’s typically the larger systems that need to change, not just individual behaviours. But when change is critical, how is it possible?

How many people enjoy being in the hot seat? What about being in the hot seat as a character in 2040?

In September 2022, we answered this question by performing scenarios in the form of characters from 2040.

Since the fall of 2021, Creative Futures has been collaborating with an incredible research team focused on the future of prairie-based theatre. From the very outset of the project, we have taken a joint, strengths-based approach to working as a team. It has been an incredible learning journey where we have all had an opportunity to exercise our imagination, creativity and futures thinking competencies.

It seems everywhere we turn these days, there are examples that indicate the future is going to be difficult. Learn how we used strategic foresight to unlock hope about the futures of prairie-based theatre.

A new report explores the futures of public and nonprofit sector leadership in 2030.

What are the broad range of changes municipal innovators are contending with today, and what might they mean for the future of cities in 10-20 years? To explore this question, Creative Futures launched the inaugural cohort of Open Scan in April 2022.

Given Canada’s new $10/day childcare program, layered on with a multitude of broader societal changes impacting families, what might the childcare sector look like in 10 - 15 years? We recently developed four scenarios exploring this question for one of our clients, and while we can’t share the specifics, there are a few key questions we’ve been left to ponder.

Creative Futures is grateful to be working with a collaborative research team from the University of Calgary and the University of Regina to understand the critical uncertainties and possible futures affecting the theatre community in the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It started with a number of strategic foresight training sessions and has translated into the development of four possible scenarios for prairie-based theatre in 2040.

Learn more…

We are delighted to announce the participants of our inaugural Open Scan cohort. Having reviewed dozens of applications from civic innovators across the country, we are thrilled to be joined by the following individuals:

Last fall we were approached by Montreal-based YES Employment & Entrepreneurship to deliver a pilot training series for career practitioners on the future of work. With this in mind, we developed a program designed to help career practitioners to think like futurists.

Do you work at a Canadian municipality in a strategy and planning-related role? Do you wonder about the range of disruptions currently facing cities and how you should respond? Are you curious what disruptions other cities are paying attention to? Join Open Scan and learn to think like a futurist.

Since 2020, Creative Futures has been working with the City of Calgary on a number of projects, with a number of different teams. Thinking back on this work, there are a few key lessons we’ve learned…

Since launching Creative Futures in 2020, we’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing public and non-profit sector leaders. Along the way…

When we originally conceived of Employment in 2030 Action Labs, the plan was to work with partners across Canada to deliver a series of prototyping workshops to translate labour market information into practical solutions. Drawing from the format of a design sprint, our plan was to deliver these workshops over the course of one day, in person. But, like everything else, this plan had to shift due to COVID-19…

We imagine a future where people take more vacation time during the warm summer months to recharge, connect with family, and focus on personal projects. What if…