Video Pool

What Video Pool does

Video Pool Media Arts Centre (founded 1983, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a registered non-profit artist-run centre and Manitoba's only organization dedicated to technology-based art. Operating from the Artspace Building on Treaty 1 Territory, VP serves independent media artists, educators, and youth through a hybrid community-led model spanning production facilities, exhibition venues, distribution services, residencies, and educational programming.

The organization's core infrastructure comprises five purpose-built facilities: the Poolside Gallery (exhibition space), The Output (performance/screening venue), The Pivot (HyFlex education classroom), the Adventure Lab (analog A/V studio for signal modification and hybrid digital-analog workflows), and the 8.1-channel Immersion Studio (multi-channel audio suite). VP distributes the largest prairie video art collection in Canada — over 2,200 titles from 600+ artists dating to the 1960s — internationally through the VUCAVU streaming platform and direct licensing to festivals and institutions.

VP's revenue model blends earned income (annual memberships, paid workshops and bootcamps ranging $200-$550+ GST, youth summer camps, equipment and venue rentals, distribution licensing fees, donations) with multi-year public-arts funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, and the Government of Canada's Community Services Recovery Fund. The organization has 8 employees, no venture or private-equity backing, and is governed by a board of directors. Recent strategic activity includes new residency programs (Video Commission Residency, MATR, SLFMAE, Access AV), the Steve's Independent Makers Fair (2026), Tech-Forward Art Dialogues (2024), and an AI Mentorship Residency partnership with Harbour Collective (2025).

Name

Video Pool

Legal name

Video Pool Media Arts Centre

Website

https://videopool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Video Pool Media Arts Centre is a non-profit artist-run centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba — and Manitoba's only one dedicated to technology-based art — serving independent media artists, educators, and youth with production studios, exhibition venues, residencies, and international distribution of Canada's largest prairie video art collection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist-Run Media Arts Centre

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Photography & Videography Arts Programs (EDAMAAAC), Photography & Videography (EDAAAGAF), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Media arts centre
• Video art distribution
• Artist residencies
• Projection mapping workshops
• Artist-run facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program providing access to VP facilities, equipment, workshops, and distribution services for artists.
2. Workshop & Bootcamp Fees: Professional development programs including projection mapping bootcamps ($200-$275+GST) and youth summer camps ($550+GST).
3. Venue & Equipment Rentals: Rental of production facilities, studios, and equipment including Pocket Cinema cameras and projectors to members and external clients.
4. Distribution Services: Video art distribution to festivals, galleries, and institutions internationally; works available on VUCAVU subscription and limited-time rental.
5. Donations & Fundraising: Charitable donations from supporters to support programs and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Video Pool Media Arts Centre is Manitoba's only artist-run centre dedicated to technology-based art. It operates exhibition venues (Poolside Gallery, The Output), production studios (Adventure Lab analog A/V, 8.1-channel Immersion Studio), and an education centre (The Pivot), while distributing the largest prairie video art collection in Canada (2,200+ titles from 600+ artists) internationally through festivals, galleries, and the VUCAVU platform. The organization runs residency programs, professional development workshops, youth camps, and equipment/venue rentals for independent media artists and educators.

Product overview

Video Pool Media Arts Centre is Manitoba's only artist-run centre dedicated to technology-based art, operating as a platform combining exhibition facilities, production studios, distribution services, and educational programs. Core offerings include the Poolside Gallery, The Output venue, and The Pivot education centre for exhibitions; the analog A/V Adventure Lab and 8.1-channel Immersion Studio for production; distribution of over 2,200 video art titles through VUCAVU; and residency programs (VCR, MATR, SLFMAE, Access AV) supporting experimental media arts. Educational programming includes workshops in projection mapping (MadMapper), motion graphics (TouchDesigner, Canva), and emerging technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Poolside Gallery: VP's intimate gallery space for exhibitions and installations
• The Output
• The Pivot
• The Adventure Lab
• 8.1-channel Immersion Studio

Products and services

• Video Art Distribution Services International distribution of prairie video art catalogue to festivals, galleries, and institutions globally, with works available on the VUCAVU platform for streaming and rental.
• Poolside Gallery Primary exhibition space for video art installations, featuring mounted Epson HC2250 projectors and JBL Control 28 speakers.
• The Output Venue Performance venue and screening space for video art presentations, concerts, and A/V performances.
• The Pivot Education Centre HyFlex classroom delivering workshops and courses that bridge technology and art, with capability for global remote participation.
• Adventure Lab (Analog A/V Studio) Analog-focused production studio supporting A/V exploration through feedback, signal modification, and hybrid digital-analog processes, available for residencies and rental.
• 8.1-Channel Immersion Studio Multi-channel audio suite for immersive sound installations and experimental audio-visual works.
• Video Commission Residency (VCR) Annual residency supporting the creation of new experimental screen-based works, providing $2000 artist fee plus up to $1500 in facility/equipment/workshop access for local artists.
• Media Arts + Technology Residency (MATR) Site-specific residency in Poolside Gallery where artists develop and install experimental technology-based works over six weeks, with $3000 artist fee.
• Scott Leroux Fund for Media Arts Exploration (SLFMAE) Annual month-long residency focused on research and exploration of specific technology and aesthetic approaches, offering $2000 for selected artists.
• Access AV Residency Provides up to five artists with 60 hours of self-directed access to the analog-focused Adventure Lab, prioritizing process-driven exploration over finished works.
• Shaping Light: Projection Mapping Bootcamp Two-day professional development workshop teaching projection mapping using MadMapper for educators, with ready-to-use lesson plans and optional practice day.
• Code & Canvas: TouchDesigner Workshop Hands-on course in creating real-time generative visuals and interactive media using TouchDesigner software.
• Youth Summer Camp - Shaping Light Two-week immersive program for youth ages 12-16 introducing digital art, projection mapping, and creative technology skills through hands-on projects.
• AI Mentorship Residency: Breaking the System Residency program in collaboration with Harbour Collective exploring the creative and critical potential of AI in the arts, supporting BIPOC artists.
• Tech-Forward Art Dialogues (TAD) Four-part roundtable discussion series exploring technology in arts including Video, Sound, Performance, and Installation tracks.
• Steve's Independent Makers Fair First annual handmade market for artists, makers, tinkerers, and creative technologists celebrating independent making across craft, art, and technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists receive $2000+ in funding per residency plus facility access

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VUCAVUcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVUCAVU serves as the primary online distribution platform for VP's video art catalogue, making 2,200+ titles available for streaming and rental to subscribers and individual customers globally.
• Send + Receive: Festival of SoundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for sound art programming including co-presentations, A/V concerts, and artist workshops featuring international and local sound artists.
• Cluster FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of installation works at Poolside Gallery including 'Will it Bow' by Kerrigan & Gage Salnikowski, 'bingenTV' by Sophie Seita & Naomi Woo, and 'The Environment Machine Shop' by Michael Lucenkiw.
• Harbour CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on AI Mentorship Residency 'Breaking the System' and 'Bridging the Gap' database research program for BIPOC artists.
• TakeHome BIPOC Art HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MATR 2025 residency program supporting BIPOC artists in media arts and technology-based work.
• WNDX Festival of Moving ImageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for exhibition programming at Poolside Gallery featuring works by Franci Duran and other media artists.
• Gimli International Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival screening VP catalogue works in Manitoba Shorts in Competition program.
• SALT Beyoğlu (Istanbul)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational screening program featuring 'Anthology for Fruits and Vegetables' by Dawn George in collaboration with Istanbul Experimental.
• imagineNATIVE Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScreening multiple VP catalogue works including 'Midnight Migrations' and Indigenous media art titles.
• Rainbow Visions Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdmonton festival screening retrospective of Shawna Dempsey & Lorri Millan works.
• Inside Out: 2SLGBTQ+ Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToronto festival screening VP catalogue works in youth-focused shorts program.
• Montreal Underground Film Festival (MUFF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerScreening multiple VP catalogue works and awarding jury prize to VP-affiliated artist Zoë LeBrun.
• Red Tent WinnipegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional third-party support available for VP's Safer Spaces Policy implementation and crisis response.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Send + Receive Festival of Sound: Winnipeg-based sound art festival and ongoing programming partner that co-presents A/V concerts, workshops, and artist residencies with VP. Shared local arts ecosystem with overlapping artist community.
• VUCAVU: Online aggregator platform hosting VP's 2,200+ title catalogue alongside other Canadian artist-run centres. Functions as VP's primary digital distribution channel and a strategic ecosystem partner.

Direct peers

• Interaccess: Toronto-based gallery, studio, and education space for electronic and new media art. Direct overlap with VP's technology-based art mandate, including residencies, exhibitions, and public programming.
• SAW Video: Ottawa-based artist-run media arts centre supporting video production, post-production, distribution, and artist residencies. Operates a distribution service parallel to VP's and serves a comparable independent-artist segment.
• VIVO Media Arts Centre: Vancouver-based artist-run centre dedicated to media arts including video, sound, and emerging technologies. Comparable mandate in production facilities, residencies, workshops, and artist-run distribution.
• Trinity Square Video: Toronto-based artist-run centre dedicated to video art production, exhibition, and distribution. Closest functional analogue to VP, with comparable facilities, memberships, residencies, and an internationally distributed Canadian video art catalogue.
• Artengine: Ottawa-based artist-run centre for experimental media art including sound, video, and digital culture. Provides residencies, exhibitions, and workshops similar in scope to VP's offerings.
• Eastern Bloc: Montréal artist-run centre dedicated to new media and digital art production. Comparable production studios, residency programs, and exhibition-driven operating model serving independent media artists.
• Studio XX: Montréal-based feminist artist-run centre focused on media arts practice. Comparable artist-run model offering residencies, production support, exhibitions, and digital literacy programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Film Board of Canada: Federally funded Canadian film producer and distributor operating at vastly greater scale. Overlaps with VP on independent/experimental Canadian video distribution and producer support, though mandate extends across all genres.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vp_media_arts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/video-pool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Video Pool