In the first episode of our 2024 season, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Tairone Bastien, curator of 'A Feral Commons' – a global public art co-commission project led by Alserkal Advisory in collaboration with GCDN and with support from UAP.

In the final episode of the 2023 season, our host, Stephanie Fortunato, speaks with Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, founders of Handspring Puppet Company, whose monumental works include War Horse and Little Amal. They discuss the role of puppetry in storytelling, building new audiences, activism and bridging connections between communities.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with David Cowan, Chief Public Spaces Officer at the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP). David expands on the work of DDP in developing public spaces that place the wishes and needs of Detroiters at the forefront. The two go on to discuss the numerous attributes that create a successful vibrant public space; from programming to financial models to public safety, DDP considers it all.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Paul Farber, Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab. They discuss the origins of Monument Lab and the value of boundaries for healthy collaboration. The two also discuss Monument Lab’s Pulling Together – a summer 2023 public art exhibition bringing forward new perspectives on Washington D.C.’s National Mall.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato talks to Helen Kearney and Kat Pegler, authors of the recently released report: Sustainable Development in Cultural Districts – commissioned by The City of London Corporation with the support of GCDN.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato talks with Matthew Che Kowal and Molly North, founders of Majestic Collaborations – a company that takes an experiential learning approach to community preparedness, specifically using music, art, and cultural festivals as an immersive classroom. The three discuss Majestic Collaborations’ Four Pillars model for successful events: Safety, Sustainability, Accessibility, and Community Engagement.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Simon Cane, Director of Cultural Engagement at UCL, and Chair of the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter. They talk about the ingredients and deep understanding of context required to shape cultural and educational powerhouses that promote inclusive growth, diversification within the sector, and community engagement.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Rosie Dow, Manager of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health at UCL. They talk about Rosie’s new role at UCL, her previous work leading “HARP”, the health benefits of singing, as well as the essential role of networks in the field of arts and health.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director, about The Bentway’s artful and playful approach to activating public spaces – as illustrated by their 2021 Playing in Public season and accompanying Play Provocations resource that encourages cities to become more play-friendly. After, Stephanie is joined by fellow host Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Linda C. Harrison, Director & CEO, about her bold leadership agenda to transform the Newark Museum of Art into a relational organisation that not merely sits in, but belongs to its community. After, Adrian is joined by fellow host Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Vilma Jurkute, Executive Director of Alserkal in Dubai. They discuss how Alserkal’s commitment to facilitating open dialogue, mapping geographies of practice, and building a repository of knowledge for future generations have catalysed the development of a cultural ecosystem that goes beyond physical infrastructure. After, Adrian is joined by Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Lily Cabatu Weiss, Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District. They talk about the importance of collaboration amongst cultural leaders and institutions, especially in times of crisis, in enabling resource-sharing, knowledge transfer, synergy, and increased support from all stakeholders – as illustrated by the We Are Dallas Arts initiative. After, Stephanie is joined by Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Veronica Smith, author of "When Communities Disappear". They discuss the interdependent relationship between economic and community development, and emphasize the imperative need to build and sustain healthy communities by being authentic and enabling access to resources. After, Stephanie is joined by Adrian Ellis to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with author and renowned urban expert Charles Landry. They go over his remarkable career, retracing the route and influences which led him to his famed Creative City concept. They also discuss his current focus on creative bureaucracy – best illustrated by his annual Creative Bureaucracy Festival. After, Adrian is joined by Stephanie Fortunato to explore key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Criena Gehrke speaks with playwright, artistic director, and Indigenous leader Wesley Enoch about the role of storytelling, leadership and wisdom in elevating and amplifying the voices of Indigenous artists and cultures. They also highlight the importance of advocating for the intrinsic value of the arts, particularly in terms of celebrating differences and encouraging dialogue. After, Criena is joined Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Criena Gehrke speaks with Manal Ataya, the Director General of the Sharjah Museums Authority. They discuss the educational value of the arts, particularly in terms of promoting inclusivity and diversity as well as cultivating empathy. After, Criena is joined by Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Jia-Ping Lee, an urban rejuvenator and place consultant based in Malaysia, about her inspirational journey as a placemaker who has been advocating and creating better places to live, work and play. After, Stephanie is joined by Adrian Ellis to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, about his relational journey and global experiences in the arts, which highlights the importance of producing cultural programmes that address current social needs, and are co-created with communities. After, Adrian is joined by Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Diane Ragsdale, Director and Co-Lead Faculty of the Cultural Leadership Program at Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, about the need for transformational cultural leadership. After, Stephanie is joined by Adrian Ellis to discuss key takeaways.

In this episode, our host Criena Gehrke speaks with urbanist Ben Rogers about the differing factors influencing urban planning and policy today. After, Criena is joined by fellow host Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways.