OCNews

A new project led by Okanagan College researcher Dr. Emma Lind has received national funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to explore how colleges across Canada measure the value of arts education. 

Lind’s project, titled “Transforming Impact: Alternative Metrics for Assessing the Community Value of Post-Secondary Arts Education in Canada,” will bring together existing research and evidence to examine the role colleges play in the Canadian arts sector and the tools used to measure the value of arts education in a rapidly changing college sector. 

Lind is one of 41 researchers nationwide to receive a 2025 SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant, and the only award-holder appointed to a college.  The Knowledge Synthesis Grant supports The Arts Transformed initiative, one of Canada’s identified future challenge areas. The program funds social sciences and humanities research that synthesizes existing knowledge into ready-to-use tools for policymakers. 

“Arts education creates real value in our communities, but the full spectrum of that impact isn’t always measured by traditional reporting metrics,” said Dr. Lind. “This project is an opportunity to better understand and communicate the broader social and cultural contributions of arts education to our communities, so they can be recognized and supported.”

Lind is working with Okanagan College colleagues Dr. Judith Anderson, Corinna Chong and Dr. Jake Kennedy, bringing together extensive expertise in arts education and research. 

Together, the team will produce a report and evidence brief in Spring 2027 to share findings with researchers, policymakers and the broader community. Their results will be part of a national database of analysis on the identity and impact of the Arts in the 21st century. 

“Receiving national recognition from SSHRC highlights the strength of applied research and education at Okanagan College,” said Okanagan College Director of Applied Research, Dr. Mary Butterfield. “The work of Dr. Lind and her colleagues reflects Okanagan College’s commitment to applied research that solves real-world challenges affecting our communities and turns knowledge into insights communities can use.” 

The project contributes to national conversations about how the value of arts education is understood and measured. Its findings will help inform how colleges, policymakers and communities assess and support arts education in a rapidly changing sector.

More information about Okanagan College’s applied research initiatives is available at okanagancollege.ca/applied-research.