This program was created through a partnership between TAC and The Creative School (CS) at Toronto Metropolitan University to encourage arts organizations to consider the creative possibilities unlocked using technology and design thinking. The partnership provides arts organizations with access to student expertise, to explore solutions to the challenges they face; the students receive practical, hands-on projects as part of the Creative School’s Design Solutions Super Course. The Super Course is an educational experience that challenges students from different programs to work with external partners to conceive and develop solutions using a design thinking process.

Emphasis is placed on projects that:

• Address organizational challenges within the arts sector using digital-enabled approaches.
• Facilitate collaborative and unexpected solutions with the potential to benefit the arts sector.
• Provide arts organizations and artist collectives access to design and technological expertise.
• Enhance organizational capacity in the arts sector around digital technology.

For the purposes of this grant, “digital” refers to any user-centered design process involving significant use of mobile, web, augmented/virtual reality, or computer-based technology

The TAC-CS DSI funds an 8-month experience between September and April. The program is divided into two stages, corresponding with academic semesters.

First Stage: From September to December, successful applicant organizations will work 10-15 hours a month, meeting regularly with a team of Design Solutions Super Course 1 students to address their identified problem, with the aim of creating a prototype of the proposed solution. The prototype will be shared with the wider community during a “demo day” at CS which the whole team will attend.

Second Stage: From January to April, successful applicant organizations will continue in one of two ways:

1. Design Solutions Super Course 2: Teams selected to continue with Super Course 2 will have a chance to further develop their prototype with CS students.
2. Self-directed: Teams may be asked to continue development of their prototype with a partner of their choosing or on their own, independent of Toronto Metropolitan University CS.

Successful applicants are required to sign an agreement with CS before beginning the project and attend a program evaluation meeting to be scheduled in 2023. 

TAC Accessibility grant: Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to a maximum of $5,000 towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists' accessibility needs).

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)