Introducing the Investigation Phase:A New Entry Point into Future Focus

by Ayla Stephen

Over the past year, Jennifer DeDominicis and I have had many rich and frank conversations with arts managers and leaders about where their organizations are, and whether funding through our Future Focus program could support meaningful learning, transformation, or advancement.

Through these conversations, especially with small- and mid-sized organizations, it became clear that the existing entry point into the program can often be too high a bar.

We realized that many organizations are eager to engage in future-focused work, but need more mental space, planning support, and time to think things through before designing a more robust and in-depth exploration. That’s why we’ve introduced a new, optional first step in the program: the Investigation Phase.

This new phase is designed to help organizations “test the waters.” It provides funding of up to $5,000 to support early-stage planning, expert consultation, and internal capacity to explore and define key questions or challenges facing the organization.

We hope that this phase will give small and mid-sized arts organizations the time and resources to begin thinking strategically about how they might approach a significant shift, and whether a larger-scale exploration or implementation project could be the right next step.

With a simplified application and monthly deadlines, the Investigation Phase lowers the barrier to entry and helps build a stronger base for deeper engagement with the Future Focus program. It’s particularly valuable for organizations with limited staff, where finding time and space for this kind of work can feel daunting. Funding can be used for staff time, early conversations with consultants, or information gathering—all in service of defining a more robust and purposeful path forward.

Organizations are not required to go through the Investigation Phase to apply for the Exploration or Implementation Phases, but we hope it opens new pathways to participation, especially for those who need time to build clarity and confidence in their direction. We’re excited to see how this new phase helps organizations better articulate their questions, clarify their goals, and design exploration work that’s grounded, relevant, and impactful.

To learn more, please visit visit www.rozsafoundation.com/future-focus.

The Future Focus Program is a funding collaboration between Calgary Arts Development, the Rozsa Foundation, and the Calgary Foundation.