Recent Projects
Program Development
Concept, Design, Curriculum, and Implementation
ARTSPACE
IMMERSION
In 2015, Kresge Foundation challenged Artspace to help arts organizations create their own spaces, and with it, the opportunity to grow from real estate developer to thought leader.
Artspace entrusted me with leading the development, curriculum design, and implementation. Now with 8 cities served, nearly 100 alumni organizations, 5 national funders, and several off-shoots, Artspace Immersion is a $4.7mil program that has become a hallmark of Artspace’s offerings.
BLOOMBERG
PRIMER
Responding to participant feedback about perennial space-related challenges, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Arts Innovation Management program team invited Artspace to create a customized training for participants.
I designed Artspace Primer, a one-day workshop, companion booklet and website that helps arts organizations take the first steps toward making their space-related dream a reality. I then delivered the workshop to groups of 70-150 arts leaders in each of the six cities.
CREATIVE SPACES ACCELERATOR
The City of Newark, New Jersey brought Artspace on to support an initiative to strengthen its creative infrastructure and assist local organizations as they create their own spaces.
Artspace contracted me to design a bespoke program that combines group and individualized coaching. In addition to the program development, I provided project management and strategy sessions to support the launch of this new program.
Interested in a program for your community or organization? Reach out.
Community Engagement
Design, Facilitation, and Reporting
REGIONAL CREATIVE SPACE STUDY
Recognizing the effects of Northwest Arkansas’ rapid growth on the creative community, Walton Family Foundation invited Artspace to connect with leaders across the region to learn what spaces exist and what could be created.
To launch this work, I delivered volunteer training, preparing a core group to create pathways to local arts, civic, and financial leaders. Our team then visited the region several times to facilitate focus group and public meetings, surveys, and tours. We solidified learnings by delivering a report, presentations, and a map of cultural assets.
DEVELOPER LISTENING
SESSIONS
Jamaica Queens Development Corporation was creating a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a developer for a property they owned. To encourage the development of space for the creative community, they brought us in to: a) identify priority creative space-uses; and b) engage the local arts community early in the development process.
My role was to create customized engagement tools, including focus group materials and a questionnaire. Then use those tools to connect with arts leaders, gather, and analyze feedback in a written report. The report we delivered informed the RFP and solidified the artists’ voice in the development of this central site.
ARTS DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY
Contributing to recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria to re-build affordable creative space, Artspace was invited to assess the feasibility of creating affordable housing for artists in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
I brought my Spanish skills and experience leading multi-cultural teams to create bi-lingual volunteer trainings and engagement tools. We traveled to San Juan to connect with community members and tour potential sites. Throughout the pandemic shutdown, we continued the study virtually with an online survey and partnership building meetings.
Need to engage with a community? I can help.
Arts Facility Consultations
Strategy, Coaching, and Technical Assistance
URBAN
MARKET EXCHANGE
Urban Market Exchange’s vision is to provide cost-effective, makerspaces to artisans, inventors, and tailors in an area of Chicago that has been affected by poverty, community disinvestment, and lack of economic development.
I provided bi-monthly coaching calls with the founder and partners as they navigated the real estate landscape. Sessions focused on partnership formation and fundraising strategy, and led toward the creation of an inclusive space that lives out their organizational mission.
30,000
FEET
30,000 Feet empowers African American youth through culture, art, technology, and social justice. When they were in early planning stages for a new space, they brought us in to help them refine their concept and budget through scenario planning for the new building.
Once they identified a new space, they invited us back to create a business plan to strategize changes in staffing, revenue opportunities, and communications during this period of growth.
WOMEN
OF
BANGLATOWN
Women of Banglatown provides a culturally-sensitive space for arts and well-being for first generation and immigrant young women from the Banglatown, Detroit.
As participants of the Artspace Immersion program they identified a new location for their programming. I provided guidance through scenario and prioritization exercises, fundraising strategy sessions, and coaching calls. Over the course of our time together, they advanced this ambitious multi-phased project, securing major grant funding, and launching the first phase of construction.
