Pathwaves is an initiative aimed at empowering Canadian musicians to make lifelong careers in music more possible and equitable. 

The Pathwaves Digital Literacy Incubator was created in response to the observation that musicians were being left behind by the rapid evolution of technologies and therefore not benefiting equitably from the digital transformation of their industry. It responded to these challenges by creating opportunities to increase digital literacy across the realms of creation, performance and entrepreneurial business practices. 

18 musicians from across Canada were selected for a 3-month co-learning journey that considered a multitude of contemporary technologies—from streaming software and VR live shows to NFTs and AI assisted composition—with the goal of sparking new solutions-oriented thought around the creation and sharing of music. Delivered virtually from January to March 2022, the Pathwaves Incubator consisted of conferences, mentorship, master classes, workshops, individual work, and knowledge-exchange.

While the program has been completed, findings and learnings live on with the publication and distribution of the Pathwaves Report, and the sharing of the incubator’s Horizon Scan.

Designed to seed adaptation strategies and to cultivate futures thinking, Pathwaves now seeks to share with artists, technologists, industry professionals and other open minds, the spirit of learning, curiosity and capacity-building potential at the heart of the initiative. This next phase of the program will highlight Pathwaves participants as ambassadors to conduct a series of public interactive presentations at conferences and events, with the aim of expanding the conversation and its implications beyond the original incubator initiative. 
 
Pathwaves is a project partnership between Envision Management & Production, Phi Centre and OCAD University, with financial support from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Learn More at pathwaves.ca >