Can your art help dismantle injustice, shift systems, or spark healing in places like homeless shelters, emergency rooms, or city planning meetings? If you’re passionate about making a real difference through creativity, ART IS CHANGE (formerly known as Change the Story / Change the World) is your front-row seat to the real-world impact of art and social change. Hosted by author, musician, and researcher Bill Cleveland, each episode brings you deep into the lives and work of activist artists ...
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One World Movement For Global Democracy Podcasts
Humanity needs a new political system. This lecture series explores the alternative vision of extending democracy from the national to the global level, where it could actually work far better. It describes the rational way to balance the power of the global corporations, deal seriously with global crises, and turn nice aspirations like ‘human rights’ to reality. Hear about the history of this idea, answers to the doubts and misconceptions people have about it, and how it could come about. Y ...
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Solar Story Circle: How Narrative Powers Democracy & Social Change
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25:05What if the solution to the climate crisis and the key to democratic renewal were powered by the same thing? In this episode of Art is Change, we'll explore Bill McKiibben new book, Here Comes the Sun, and draw a powerful parallel between the emerging solar energy story and narrative of as a force for democracy and social change. What if stories co…
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Alma & Frank: Designing Creative Futures One Story at a Time
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34:01What if art could open the door to a new life after prison? What if creative work wasn't just healing, but a literal job offer? In a time when reentry programs are scarce and trust is hard to rebuild, this episode, the second of our two part series on the work of California Lawyers for the Arts, introduces Designing Creative Futures, a groundbreaki…
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Alma Robinson: How Do You Build an Art & Social Change Movement That Lasts Decades
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47:37In this episode, we sit down with Alma Robinson, the longtime executive director of California Lawyers for the Arts. From cultural repatriation to youth advocacy to resurrecting a legendary prison arts program, Alma has been at the heart of a quiet revolution, mobilizing artists and legal advocates to shape a more just creative society. In it we'll…
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Art and Resistance: Smithsonian, FREE DC, LA, and Beyond
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14:31What happens when a president tries to get the WOKE out of museums? In this episode of ART IS CHANGE we follow the latest political attacks on the Smithsonian and other cultural institutions and explore how activist artists and institutions around the country are turning up the volume in response. From DC Block parties powered by Go Go beats to hig…
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How can activist artists & cultural organizers help build the bridges we need to make democracy whole?
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17:46What can a story of the building of a community bridge teach us today as we struggle to find common ground? The answer, of course, is more than you can imagine, and then some. And in this episode of Art is Change, we'll hear the story of just one of the many, many examples we can learn from. Now, in this episode You'll hear How one bold question sp…
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What Does it take for a Community of Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers to Become a Real Force For Resistance & Change?
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50:01What does it take for a community of activist artists & cultural organizers to become a real force for resistance & change? And doing that, how do we create communities that can hold both joy and grief and stay resilient in these weird hard times and still fight for justice together? This is Artist Change, a chronicle of art and social change, wher…
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Self-Care: Why it Matters for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers!
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20:45If you’re a cultural worker navigating the messy, magical middle ground of art and activism, who’s taking care of you? Now, if you’ve been with us over the last two episodes, you’ll know we’ve been tackling what we call the building blocks of effective community arts practice—those foundational elements that help artists not just make meaningful wo…
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Can Artist activists and cultural organizers become trusted community leaders?
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23:16Can an artist lead a community? What does it take for cultural activists to become trusted stewards of change in divisive times? In a world grappling with polarization and rising authoritarianism, the need for compassionate, imaginative leadership has never been more urgent. This episode dives into how artists and cultural workers already operating…
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What Are Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers Accountable to in Their Work?
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31:39To whom or what are artists and cultural organizers truly accountable—and why does it matter? In an age where creative work increasingly intersects with social change, understanding accountability is crucial for artists striving to make a civic impact. Whether you’re creating in your own community or stepping into unfamiliar territory, this episode…
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Jerry Stropnicky: Story, Civic Empathy, & Social Change
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47:32What happens when a theater director steps into a struggling town and ignites transformation through the power of shared stories? In a world where communities face trauma, disconnection, and invisibility, this episode explores how the ancient impulse to gather and perform stories can foster healing, agency, and real-world change. If you’ve ever won…
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“How Do Activist Artists and Cultural Organizers Resist: Lessons from the Anti-Authoritarian Frontlines
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22:43What do the arts have to do with resisting authoritarianism? And how do we, as creative community leaders, keep pushing for democracy when the odds feel stacked against us? If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the news, discouraged by political setbacks, or unsure how artists and cultural organizers fit into this urgent fight, you’re not alone. Th…
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Can Arts Festivals, Community Theater & Cultural Organizers Save Democracy?
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38:11What happens when community theater, political leadership, and grassroots organizing collide? In today’s polarized climate, building authentic, inclusive community can feel impossible—especially across political, social, and cultural divides. But Kathie deNobriga has been doing exactly that for decades—as an artist, activist, and even as the mayor …
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When the Arts Are Under Fire – Navigating Today’s Unfriendly Cultural Climate
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19:21What happens when your art, your activism or your organization’s mission makes you a political target? If you’re an artist, nonprofit leader, cultural organizer, or anyone working at the intersection of creativity and social change, you already know the landscape is shifting—and not in your favor. From sudden grant revocations to legal threats and …
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Can Activist Artists Bring DEI Back From the Dead? Part 3
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48:31What if the key to undoing bias and building empathy isn’t just policy or protest—but a complicated art and neuroscience dance that facilitates the rewiring the human brain? In this final chapter of our three-part Breaking Ice series, we move from the stage to the synapse. After witnessing how theater can unearth hidden truths and foster real conve…
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Can Theater Artists Bring DEI Back From the Dead? Part 2
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46:31Can a scripted performance shift the way people feel—and act—about race, identity, and inclusion in their workplace? This is Chapter Two of our three-part journey into the world of Breaking Ice, a theater-based DEI program pushing against the mounting tide of resistance and rollback. Building on the emotional groundwork laid in Part 1, we now go de…
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Can Activist Theater Artists Bring DEI Back from the Dead? Part 1
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46:11Can artists revive the powerful, but increasingly vilified, values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America? As DEI initiatives face growing backlash and politicization, many wonder whether the ideals of inclusion and justice can still thrive. This show originally shared in 2023 is the first episode of a three-part series that invites listene…
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Art IS Change: Want Proof That Art Makes Real Change? Start Here
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18:37What if changing a podcast title could spark a deeper, more powerful shift in how we understand the role of artists in shaping society? Not likely, but if you’ve ever felt like your creative work is meaningful but invisible in the fight for justice and transformation, this episode digs deep into how storytelling isn’t just a method—it’s the foundat…
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Why Arts Activism & Cultural Organizing are a Pro Democracy Imperative
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42:14How can the transformative power of art and culture serve as the connective tissue in movements for democracy, justice, and deep societal change? In our divided world , building genuine, arts animated cross-sector collaboration is more than a goal—it’s a necessity. This episode dives into how activist artists and cultural organizers can forge meani…
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The CETA Arts Revolution Part 2: What Can Today's Activist Artists Learn From It?
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33:30What if the secret to revitalizing today’s creative workforce lies in a forgotten 1970s government program? In a time when society urgently seeks sustainable ways to support artists and strengthen communities, in this episode, the second of two, we revisit the CETA Arts Program—a bold experiment that transformed artists into public servants. You’ll…
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THE CETA ARTS REVOLUTION: What Can Today's Activist Artists & Organizers Learn from It?
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38:28Did you know the U.S. once launched a massive jobs program that empowered over 20,000 artists, and creative support staff—and then let it vanish from collective memory? For artists, educators, and community leaders seeking sustainable support for creative work, the forgotten story of the CETA Arts Program offers a powerful historical lesson. In a t…
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New Rules: 11 Unlikely Lessons for Activist Artists Navigating MAGA.
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22:51What can we learn from artists who survived the chaos of 1980s prisons—and how can their lessons help us resist authoritarianism today? From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where artivists share and learn the skills and strategies they need to thrive as …
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How are Artists and Organizers Creating a Better World Together? Reprise
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1:00:10Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today’s social movements? From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what the…
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Change the Story Weather Report: A Neighborhood Cultural Center Navigates the MAGA Storm
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24:31The MAGA storm system continues to exert a profound influence on community members, activist artists and cultural organizers living and working in Minneapolis' Powderhorn Central Community. Bill Cleveland's dialogue with Noel Raymond reveals the complexities of navigating activism amidst the destabilizing forces fast moving Trumpian juggernaut. Ray…
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Talking Walls & Dancing Kites*: Powerful Lessons from a Prison Writing Classroom
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47:53
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47:53What happens when a writer steps into a prison and discovers more than just stories behind bars? In this episode author and educator Jim Reese shares vivid stories and hard lessons from more than a decade working with incarcerated men. In a world obsessed with punishment over understanding, this episode dives deep into the transformative power of w…
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Change the Story Good Trouble Weather Report: Massachusetts
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14:35Summary In this Change the Story, Good Trouble “Weather Report” episode, Michael Bobbit, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, joins host BC to examine the turbulent climate for arts and social change under the Trump regime. From the erosion of DEI policies to looming threats against public arts funding, Bobbit underscores the urgent nee…
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How do Arts Leaders Become Community Change Agents?
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47:00Summary In this powerful and personal conversation, MASS Cultural Council Executive Director, Michael Bobbitt explores the life-saving role of the arts, how creative work is inherently political, and the deep importance of joy, community, and innovation in building a better future. Drawing on his personal story, leadership journey, and groundbreaki…
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CSCW's Art & Social Change Weather Report From Minneapolis
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19:23
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19:23Summary Weather Report: The Art & Activism Forecast from Minneapolis In this episode, we kick off a new Change the Story feature—The Weather Report—where we check in with creative change-makers across the country to get a pulse on how art and activism are faring in their communities. First stop: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our guest is David O’Fallon, …
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How the Arts Can Thwart the Attention Bandits
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29:27Change the Story GoFundME Campaign Along with many of our guests, we believe we have come to a place in the American story that calls for both pushing back AND pushing forward. To do our part in this, we want to grow our audience, do more in-depth serial episodes, use our expanding archive to help artists learn about art and social change work. Up …
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Henry Frank: Art & the 21st Century Man
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1:14:00Thank You For Listening Its been 4 years and 116 episodes. Now, we’re at a turning point. Our listeners are asking for more—more in-depth storytelling, more tools for teaching and advocacy, and a broader reach. To make that happen, we’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to help sustain and expand the podcast. You know as well as anyone that the world n…
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Lynne Elizabeth: Breaking Ground for The New Village
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51:59Summary Can somethings as mundane a publishing be a revolutionary act. This podcast episode delves into the profound significance of mission centered publishing as illuminated through the life and work of Lynne Elizabeth, the founding director of New Village Press. Our conversation underscores the notion that books serve as instruments for social c…
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Lily Yeh, a globally celebrated artist and community arts pioneer, shares her transformative journey of using art to foster healing, hope, and resilience in marginalized communities around the world. Drawing from her experiences in places like Philadelphia, Rwanda, and China, she emphasizes the power of collaboration and the importance of community…
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Jack Bowers -A Do-gooder Opportunist in the Joint : A Jazz Improvisation in 4 Parts
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55:25Summary This podcast episode features a compelling conversation between Bill Cleveland and Jack Bowers, highlighting the transformative power of arts programs within the prison system. Bowers shares his experiences as a musician and educator at Soledad Prison, emphasizing how curiosity and opportunism led him to create profound connections and fost…
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Episode Summary In this second of two episodes exploring democracy as a creative practice Bill Cleveland leads a rich discussion with theater workers Arnaldo Lopez, Ben Fink, and Scott Rankin, and labor organizer Ken Grossinger, who share how artistic endeavors can bridge differences, foster justice, and inspire community engagement. The conversati…
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DEMOCRACY is a practice that we haven't been practicing. The gap between the story we've been telling ourselves about our participatory democracy and our actual experience leaves us unprepared for the Resistance and Reclamation project that we're about to undertake. To get better at Democracy, we need to treat it as a creative practice! This is the…
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Jeff Mather: Art, Community, & the Materialized Imagination
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47:45Explore creative community transformation with teaching artist Jeff Mather as he shares stories of art, collaboration, and social change in education. Jeff Mather's work as a teaching artist and public art digital storytelling alchemist underscores the vital role of art in fostering community resilience and engagement. The conversation with Bill Cl…
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Rebecca Rice: Giving Voice to the Invisible
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46:09
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46:09Rebecca Rice, a pioneering community artist, transformed her personal experiences into a powerful advocacy for marginalized voices through art. Her journey began in a challenging neighborhood in Chicago, where she discovered her passion for performance and community engagement. This podcast explores her belief that every individual, regardless of t…
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Billy Yalowitz: Art & Trust in Treacherous Times
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54:47
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54:47Given the differences in power, and definitions of success, how can arts and change collaborations between institutions of higher learning and their local communities be equitable and accountable? And how can change oriented artists practice effectively and ethically with a foot in each camp? Billy Yalowitz has had a career as a theater director an…
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Laurie Meadoff: What Happens When Art & Humanity Pull Up A Chair?
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48:11How do you describe a Laurie Meadoff? Start off with a big heart, add a piercing intellect, an insatiable curiosity, and a gargantuan exploding fireworks extravaganza of an imagination. Then add that she's a can't-sit-still, serial do-gooder problem solver who translates the word "NO" in any language, as the starting gun for the next story in the m…
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From Ignorance to Knowing: A Journey of Art, Science & Healing
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28:01Dr. Banerji: In this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World,' Bill Cleveland explores the inspiring journey of Dr. Subhasis Banerji, a bioengineer from Singapore. Dr. Banerji shares how he utilized the interplay between art, science, and the human mind to help brain-injured and stroke patients recover. After suffering severe injuries himsel…
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When I describe BIGhART to folks in the US they accuse me of making it up. In this episode re-broadcast Scott Rankin, BIGhART’s founder, describes how this expansive, constantly morphing, multi-disciplinary, thirty-year long enterprise became one of the world's leading arts and social change organizations. This is first of two episodes featuring Sc…
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This is the second episode of a two part show we are rebroadcasting called BIGhART, BIGsTORY which tell the saga of a creative synergistic Australian force of nature called, of course BIGhART. BIGhART is Australia's leading arts and social change organization. We make art, we build communities, we drive change. 30 years in operation, 62 communities…
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Cynthia Cohen: Art, Conflict, Peacebuilding, and Social Change
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55:22Join us in a deep dive into the transformative power of art and conflict resolution with Cynthia Cohen. From powerful personal stories to groundbreaking projects, this episode is a testament to the power of creative peacebuilding. In this episode we explore artmaking and peacemaking as mutually supporting, synergistic community assets. Our conversa…
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Alternate Roots: 50 Years of Artist Activism & Cultural Organizing,
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39:10Join Bill Cleveland in a special bonus episode as we explore the incredible 50-year journey of Alternate ROOTS a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to social and economic justice. Featuring insightful conversations with Roots staffers Aimee McCoy and Clarissa Crawford, this episode delves into the diverse contributions of artists in tackling com…
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9 Reports Later: Why We Still Struggle with Race and Belonging—And How Public Art Can Change That – Part 2
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32:56🌟 "Change the Story, Change the World" is back with the FURTHER, Further Adventures of Lenwood O. Sloan! Dive into our conversation on woke culture, historical monuments, and the power of public art. Don't miss this engaging episode! #Podcast #ArtAndCommunity #ChangeTheWorld 🎙️ In this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World,' Bill Cleveland…
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9 Reports Later: Why We Still Struggle With Race and Belonging—And How Public Art Can Change That – Part 1
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37:04Further Adventures of L. O. Sloan In this milestone 100th episode, Bill Cleveland engages in a deep, reflective, and often humorous conversation with his longtime friend and legendary activist, actor, dancer, playwright, impresario, and historian, Lenwood Sloan. The discussion spans many topics, including Sloan's incredible career in the arts, his …
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Animating Democracy: Can Activist Artists and Cultural Organizing Help Save it - Part 2
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50:43In this episode we continue our conversation with Barbara Schaffer Bacon and Pam Korza, co-directors of Animating Democracy. The discussion centers on the role of arts in fostering civic dialogue and community engagement, particularly around challenging social issues. We explore several case studies of arts-based community projects, including: 1. T…
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Animating Democracy: Can Activist Artists and Cultural Organizing Help Save it - Part 1
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51:02Animating Democracy Can the Arts Save Democracy? This episode explores how creative practices can reinvigorate American democracy by bridging societal divides. Featuring insights from Pam Korza and Barbara Schaefer Bacon, we delve into how Animating Democracy has supported arts-based civic dialogue and collective action in communities across the co…
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How Judith Marcuse Transformed a Life in Dance into a Movement for Social Change
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53:39"I think unless we embody sensibilities, we connect the head, the heart and the body. We don't have a complete range of experience and expression are limited in what we think, feel and see, and so I have integrated the body into everything I've done. Judith Marcuse Judith Marcuse is one of Canada’s senior artist/producers with a career that spans o…
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How are Artist Activists and Organizers Creating a Better World Together? Reprise
59:21
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59:21Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today’s social movements? From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what the…
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Jose Antonio Aguirre on Cultural Organizing, and the Power of Public Art
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44:39Born and raised in Mexico City Jose Antonio Aguirre has become internationally recognized for his venetian glass mosaic, and carved limestone murals many of which explore the people, places, and stories he has encountered as an artist who exists in two cultures bound by the Mexican and American bi-national spaces he has occupied for four decades. T…
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