The Three Bells

In this first episode of our new format, our host, Stephanie Fortunato, shares her latest reflections on the state of our world and our industry through a thoughtful audio essay: We must unleash radical thought…ReferencesSouthern California wildfires: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2025_Southern_California_wildfiresThe Linotype Daily: https://dwriletterpress.net/the-linotype-daily-1The Linotype Daily Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelinotypedaily/Linotype Machine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linotype_machineBrain rot, Oxford Word of the Year 2024: https://corp.oup.com/word-of-the-year/Harry Belafonte’s Speech accepting NAACP Spingarn Medal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6gpeROY9Y0Harry Belafonte Obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/25/arts/music/harry-belafonte-dead.htmlFair Culture Charter: https://www.fair-culture.org/European Parliament press release, Music streaming sector: EU must ensure just pay for artists and fair algorithms: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240112IPR16773/music-streaming-sector-eu-must-ensure-just-pay-for-artists-and-fair-algorithmsIFACCA 2024 Year in Review: https://ifacca.org/news/2024/12/19/2024-year-review/SMU DataArts Research: https://culturaldata.org/research/research/Springboard for the Arts, Minnesota: https://springboardforthearts.org/Creatives Rebuild New York: https://www.creativesrebuildny.org/IFACCA report ‘Culture as a Public Good’ : https://ifacca.org/media/filer_public/5e/41/5e416ea9-47c5-4d3e-959e-074d624da3bb/ifacca_-_culture_as_a_public_good_report_-_july_2024_-_english.pdf

Our host, Adrian Ellis, sits down with Elaine Bedell, OBE, CEO of Southbank Centre to discuss what it means to lead Europe’s largest  centre for the arts. Guest bioElaine Bedell has been CEO of Southbank Centre since 2017. Southbank Centre is the largest arts centre in Europe and the UK’s 5th most visited attraction. Over 20 million people a year visit the 11-acre site, which houses 3 performing arts venues, including the Royal Festival Hall, as well as the Hayward Gallery and the National Poetry Library, 14 bars and restaurants, a food market and the Southbank skatepark. Before this, Elaine enjoyed a 25-year career in media, with roles including Controller of Entertainment at the BBC and ITV Director of Entertainment and Comedy, where she commissioned shows including Strictly, X Factor and Top Gear. She's been a Trustee of the V&A Museum and was the Executive Chair of the Edinburgh International TV Festival.  Elaine's also a published novelist and has won a BAFTA. She was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours for Services to Business and the Arts. ReferencesSouthbank Centre: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/Venues at Southbank Centre: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/Aurora orchestra: https://www.auroraorchestra.com/Elaine's recent interview with the Brunswick Group: https://review.brunswickgroup.com/article/southbank-centre-ceo-elaine-bedell/LinkedInElaine Bedell: linkedin.com/in/elaine-bedell-obe-7bb172103Southbank Centre: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southbank-centre/posts/

Our host Stephanie Fortunato sits down with Rana Amirtahmasebi and Jason Schupbach, co-editors of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, to be released in December 2024. The Handbook is the first survey of the latest and greatest thinking in urban cultural planning in 10 years, exploring approaches to bringing more cultural vibrancy and engagement in sustainable urban development. The book focuses on the spatial and social organization of urban spaces that facilitate artistic production, foster community well-being, and nurture expressions of civic identity.AcknowledgmentThe Handbook is a partnership between the editors and the World Cities Culture Forum, a network of civic leaders from over 40 creative cities across six continents who share solutions to build a world where culture is at the heart of thriving cities. Leadership at the forum, including Executive Director Laia Gasch, provided significant assistance in helping to structure the book and identify authors. In addition, the editors are grateful for the assistance provided by Global Cultural Districts Network, including Founder Adrian Ellis and Director of Special Projects Stephanie Fortunato, in finding authors and identifying key issues. Also, we are grateful to the staff of the National Endowment for the Arts for assisting identifying authors, including Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, Senior Advisor Jennifer Hughes and Director of State, Regional and Local Partnerships Michael Orlove. Tashera Dean assisted in copyediting.ReferencesThe Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Urban-Cultural-Planning/Amirtahmasebi-Schupbach/p/book/9781032509907Mark Schuster, professor of urban studies and planning, an expert on arts funding policies: https://news.mit.edu/2008/obit-schuster-0227UNESCO Culture in city reconstruction and recovery: position paper: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265981Khaled al-Asaad, a Syrian archaeologist and the head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55977964Buddhas of Bamiyan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhas_of_BamiyanRebuilding the Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: https://whc.unesco.org/en/story-mostar-bridge/Roberto Bedoya, Cultural Affairs Manager, City of Oakland: https://www.oaklandca.gov/staff/roberto-bedoyaRana Amirtahmasebi BioRana Amirtahmasebi is an economic development and cultural planning strategist and researcher. She is the founder of Eparque Urban Strategies in New York and previously worked at the World Bank, Aga Khan Programme on Islamic Architecture at MIT and several other entities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-amirtahmasebi-56a0667/ Jason Schupbach BioJason Schupbach is the dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University. He is a nationally recognized expert in the role that arts and design play in improving communities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonschupbach/ 

Our host, Adrian Ellis speaks to Ore Disu, Director of The Institute, Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) on the mission and vision of MOWAA and how the institution is thinking about culture, museum praxis and the very idea of “The Museum” differently and within the African context.External references:MOWAA website: https://wearemowaa.org/Museum of West African Art Announces the Opening of the MOWAA Institute: https://wearemowaa.org/mowaa-institute-launch-announcement/The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM): https://museum.ng/Igun Street: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igun_StreetBenin Bronzes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Bronzes Guest bio:Ore Disu has led the MOWAA Institute since January 2022 as its first Director, bringing to it more than a decade of experience in cultural programming, research, and stakeholder management for early-stage organizations. Educated at the University of Cambridge (BA in Architecture) and University College London (MSc in Urban Development Planning), she has implemented grants and contributed to the efforts of non-profit organizations including the Ford Foundation, Goethe Institute, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Overseas Development Institute, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Africa Centre for Cities. From 2016 through 2019, she served in the UK’s Department for International Development as Senior Research Partnerships Manager for the agency’s governance and accountability program in Nigeria. She subsequently moved to a multi-national social enterprise, serving as the Government Relations and Partnerships Lead for pilot programs in Uganda, India, and Nigeria. She has been active as a consultant as the founding Executive Director of Nsibidi Institute in Lagos, Nigeria, and as an Associate of the UK-based firm The Policy Practice.

Our host, Hilary Knight speaks to Rob Cawston, Director of Digital and Service Transformation, National Library of Scotland on how the NLS is taking an ethical stance on the use of AI and how this work is tied to its mission and values.External References:National Library of Scotland: https://www.nls.uk/National Library of Scotland AI Statement: https://data.nls.uk/projects/ai-statement/National Library of Scotland’s tools: https://data.nls.uk/tools/2023 SAG-AFTRA strike: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_SAG-AFTRA_strikeSmithsonian’s AI Values Statement: https://datascience.si.edu/ai-values-statementSmithsonian’s co-authored the paper "Developing responsible AI practices at the Smithsonian Institution": https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.9.e113334Bio:Rob Cawston is the Director of Digital and Service Transformation at the National Library of Scotland and has previously managed digital programmes at the Scottish Government, National Museums Scotland, the Royal Institution, BAFTA and Chatham House. Rob is a graduate of the Oxford Cultural Leaders programme at the Said Business School (University of Oxford) and has served as an Advisory Board Member of Creative Lives supporting community and volunteer-led creative activity across Scotland.

Our host, Stephanie Fortunato speaks to Adriane Jefferson, Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven. They discuss cultural equity planning at a city level, the fundamental shifts it has facilitated for New Haven, as well as the challenges and opportunities of creating a living and actionable plan to create a more equitable and more culturally diverse ecosystem, written for and by the people. External references:City of New Haven Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism: https://www.newhavenct.gov/government/departments-divisions/arts-culture-tourismCity of New Haven’s Cultural Equity Plan (2022): https://www.newhavenct.gov/government/departments-divisions/arts-culture-tourism/cultural-equity-planBlack Wallstreet Festival: https://www.instagram.com/blackwallstreetfestival/The Greater New Haven Creative Sector Relief Fund: https://www.newhavenarts.org/relieffundThe Creative Entrepreneurship Decoded (ED) program: https://www.togethernewhaven.com/deprogramTogether New Haven Arts for Antiracism Pledge: https://www.togethernewhaven.com/pledgeThe Breed Entertainment: https://www.thebreedmadeit.com/Sweets and Sounds Conference: https://www.sweetsandsounds.com/Seeing Sounds Festival: https://www.seeingsoundsfest.com/LinkedInsCity of New Haven: https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-new-haven/about/Adriane Jefferson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriane-jefferson-a3484319/Adriane Jefferson BioAdriane V. Jefferson is an award-winning Cultural Equity Leader who has worked professionally in the Arts & Culture sector for over 19 years. As the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven and the Executive Director of New Haven Festivals Inc. in Connecticut, she has spearheaded several significant initiatives such as The Unapologetically Radical Conference, the City of New Haven’s inaugural Black Wall Street festival, and the first Cultural Equity Plan in the State of Connecticut. Adriane is also a seasoned public speaker, regularly sharing her expertise on cultural equity and activism with various organizations and platforms like Yale University, the NAACP and CT Magazine to name a few. Her work has been featured in Cosmo Magazine, black enterprise magazine, yahoo news, among many other reputable news, sources. She is also currently teaching Arts & Entertainment Management as a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, she is a Yale Trumbull College Fellow and a member of Delta Sigma sorority Inc.

Our host, Adrian Ellis, speaks to His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chair, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, on the ambitious plans to position Abu Dhabi as a major tourism and cultural destination – particularly through the Saadiyat Island Cultural District, home to Louvre Abu Dhabi and a host of other world-class cultural institutions set to open their doors in the coming years. External references: Abu Dhabi DCT: https://dct.gov.ae/en/default.aspxDCT Museums and Cultural Assets: https://dct.gov.ae/en/what.we.do/culture/museums.aspxSaadiyat Cultural District: https://scdabudhabi.ae/enLouvre Abu Dhabi: https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/Zayed National Museum: https://zayednationalmuseum.ae/en/The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/experience/museums/natural-history-museum-abu-dhabiteamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi: https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/experience/culture-centres/teamlab-phenomena-abu-dhabiGuggenheim Abu Dhabi: https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/experience/museums/guggenheim-abu-dhabiGCDN Athens Convening: https://gcdn.net/convenings/athens-2024/Guardian article: The Parthenon marbles evoke particularly fierce repatriation debates – an archaeologist explains why, dated Nov. 29 2023: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/29/parthenon-marbles-british-museum-european-cultureConversation article : The Parthenon marbles evoke particularly fierce repatriation debates – an archaeologist explains why, dated June 7, 2024: https://theconversation.com/the-parthenon-marbles-evoke-particularly-fierce-repatriation-debates-an-archaeologist-explains-why-219152Benin bronzes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_BronzesCambodia tracking down thousands of priceless looted antiquities | 60 Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1DFOGHHcm4French president Macron's 2017 speech in Burkina Faso, Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA1gBuIbrR0&t=160sHis Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak BioA member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak is a prominent Emirati leader overseeing the growth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural, entertainment, real estate, and tourism sectors. In 2016, His Excellency was appointed the Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), where he oversees the preservation of the emirate’s heritage and history whilst inspiring its dynamic, world-leading approach to creating a recognised cultural capital, where culture is a driver of social and economic development. Mubarak is accountable for ensuring that Abu Dhabi is a top-of-mind destination for all leisure and business travelers, growing Abu Dhabi’s MICE share, and partnering with global IPs to bring the best of international entertainment to the emirate as well as high profile sporting events including F1, NBA, and UFC. One of the major achievements in Al Mubarak’s journey at DCT Abu Dhabi is the development of Saadiyat Cultural District – a curated destination for inspiration, artistic expression and cultural dialogue, that is currently home to Louvre Abu Dhabi and once finished will house, Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Al Mubarak serves as Chairman of Aldar Properties PJSC, the leading real estate developer in Abu Dhabi responsible for some of the most iconic landmarks and pioneering architecture in the emirate, including residential, commercial, and retail assets. Al Mubarak is Chairman of Miral, the leading creator of immersive experiences in Abu Dhabi, where he has led the transformation of key areas within the emirate, including Yas Island, and has developed strategic partnerships such as the one established with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi™. Al Mubarak is the President of the Abrahamic Family House and a member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, where he is joined by international religious leaders, educational scholars, and cultural leaders across the world, to support and spread the values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Al Mubarak serves as Vice-Chair on the Foundation Board of ALIPH, the international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas. Al Mubarak is a graduate of Northeastern University (Boston, USA), with a double major in Economics and Political Science.

SummaryOur host, Hilary Knight, speaks to Tasha James on the important role digital repatriation plays in enabling the maintenance and revitalization of Indigenous cultures, and the considerations critical to this work. Tasha, a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in Central West New South Wales, Australia, is an Indigenous audiovisual archive specialist and is currently ABC Archives Indigenous Collections & Community Access Manager at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Tasha James BioTasha is an Indigenous Audiovisual Archives specialist and is currently the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Archives Indigenous Collections and Community Access Manager.She is a Wiradjuri woman whose native homelands cross the region of Central West, New South Wales of Australia.Tasha was previously the Manager of Indigenous Connections at the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia and has over 17 years’ experience working with Indigenous Communities and Indigenous collections that include audio-visual and material culture.Throughout Tasha’s career, she has had held a number of roles in major cultural institutions such as Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) & the Australian Museum.ReferencesAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Archives: https://www.abc.net.au/archives/Central Australian Aboriginal Digitisation Project (Men’s Only Project): https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/first-nations-knowledge-and-21st-century-technology-preserving-strehlow-collectionNational Film and Sound Archive of Australia: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/ LinkedInsTasha James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-james-a82a1b23/Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-broadcasting-corporation/

Our host Adrian Ellis speaks to Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education & Culture and Chief of HR at Expo City Dubai about how Expo City transformed itself from a major event venue into a vibrant cultural ecosystem unto itself.References:Expo City Dubai: https://www.expocitydubai.com/Expo 2020 Dubai Museum opening: https://blooloop.com/museum/news/expo-2020-dubai-museum-opening/Exposition Universelle of 1867: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_Universelle_(1867)Exhibition Road Cultural Group: https://www.discoversouthken.com/1998 Lisbon Specialised Expo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_%2798Expo 2010 Shanghai China: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2010Guest bio:Tasked with making sure Dubai’s Expo 2020 delivers an enduring economic and social impact Marjan Faraidooni spends her time contemplating all-important investments in infrastructure and the redevelopment of the Expo site, while promoting culture, history and traditions around the Expo 2020 Dubai theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.She joined Expo 2020 Dubai in March 2014 and has been leading the strategy development and execution of the legacy programme since. Prior to joining the Expo team, she served as director of portfolio strategy at Dubai Holding where her responsibilities focused on the development and implementation of strategy across investments and operating companies.Marjan Faridooni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjan-faraidooni-82408111/Expo City Dubai: https://www.linkedin.com/company/expocitydubai/

Our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Luisa Bravo, founder and president of City Space Architecture. They discuss principles for designing inclusively and creating moments for sharing and togetherness, and how it takes a village to create successful public spaces – including the importance of working with collaborators that might not agree with you.ReferencesCity Space Architecture: https://www.cityspacearchitecture.org/Mastering Public Space Magazine: https://www.masteringpublicspace.org/Ascoli Piceno: https://www.italymagazine.com/ascoli-picenoJan Gehl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_GehlLife Between Buildings by Jan Gehl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5597655-life-between-buildingsThe Journal of Public Space: https://www.journalpublicspace.org/index.php/jpsMuseo Spazio Pubblico: https://www.museospaziopubblico.it/The Overstory by Richard Powers: https://www.richardpowers.net/the-overstory/Buster Simpson, artist: http://www.bustersimpson.net/Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco CA: https://presidio.gov/explore/attractions/presidio-tunnel-topsOld Tree by Pamela Rosenkranz: https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/pamela-rosenkranz/Shadow Tree by Elizabeth Keithline: https://www.pem.org/shadow-treeUpside Down Trees by Natalie Jeremijenko : https://massmoca.org/event/upside-down-trees/The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717356/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/ Luisa Bravo BioDr Luisa Bravo is a public space scholar and passionate activist, a cultural entrepreneur and an academic. After completing her PhD (2008), she has taught, researched and lectured in Europe, the United States, Middle East, Asia and Australia. She is Adjunct Professor in Urban Design at the University of Florence in Italy and has 20+ years experience in the professional field with a specific focus on public space.  Luisa holds a strong record of academic publications, she has been the recipient of grants and awards, such as the Australia Endeavour Executive Award, and she served as keynote speaker in major international conferences in 30+ countries. She has actively participated in key United Nations summits, such as the Habitat III conference (Quito, 2016), the World Urban Forum (Kuala Lumpur, 2018; Abu Dhabi, 2020; Katowice, 2022) the first UN-Habitat Assembly (Nairobi, 2019) and two High Level Meetings at the UN headquarters in New York (2017, 2022). With her non-profit organization City Space Architecture, that she founded in 2013, she organized and curated conferences, seminars, workshops and exhibitions internationally aimed at promoting public space culture. Under her leadership, City Space Architecture became partner of UN-Habitat and was engaged in the General Assembly of Partners (GAP), Research and Academia Partner Constituent Group. Luisa initiated and is currently leading several public space projects, such as: The Journal of Public Space, the first, interdisciplinary, academic, open access journal entirely dedicated to public space; the Public Space Academy, the first, free, interdisciplinary educational program on public space; the Public Space Museum, a collaborative and transdisciplinary practice on public space; the web-magazine Mastering Public Space, an online and free resource with a curated collection of news on public space from influential and reliable sources.  She is Member of AESOP Thematic group Public Spaces and Urban Cultures, Member of the Board of Experts for the European Prize for Urban Public Space, Expert to the European Commission for the Horizon Europe Program and for the research project 'Public Spaces as Spaces for Citizen Engagement', promoted by the JRC Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy. She is also an expert evaluator for the European COST project and for the Fulbright Commission (USA), and a consultant for the Global Platform for the Right to the City for which she wrote the thematic paper 'Cities and Human Settlements with Quality Public Spaces'.Luisa Bravo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisabravodesign/City Space Architecture: https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-space-architecture/

Our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Shain Shapiro, one of the world’s leading music policy thinkers and advocates, founder of Sound Diplomacy, director of the Center for Music Ecosystems, and author of This Must be the Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better. They discuss the role of music in the urban ecosystem, what a city’s music strategy can be, and the ‘edge’ music has as an urban policy tool.ReferencesShain Shapiro Website: https://www.shainshapiro.com/Sound Diplomacy: https://www.sounddiplomacy.com/This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better: https://www.shainshapiro.com/bookCenter for Music Ecosystems: https://www.centerformusicecosystems.com/Global Leaders Institute: https://www.globalleadersinstitute.org/Global Leaders Institute Course led by Shain Shapiro: https://www.globalleadersinstitute.org/blog-post/what-is-a-music-city/ LinkedInsShain Shapiro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shainhouse/Sound Diplomacy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-diplomacy/Center for Music Ecosystems: https://www.linkedin.com/company/centerformusicecosystems/Shain Shapiro BioShain Shapiro is a globally recognised thought leader at the convergence of music, culture and urban policy. This is showcased in his debut book, This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better.  Shain has defined a new way to think about the value of music in cities and places and through it, influenced over 120 cities and places to invest in music and culture as founder and executive chairman of Sound Diplomacy and founder and executive director of the not-for-profit global Center for Music Ecosystems.  He has authored authoritative reports on the role of music in cities, tourism, the night time economy, real estate and recovery, including the most extensive guide to music and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ever written, in partnership with the United Nations. He has spoken at hundreds of global conventions, such as SXSW and the UN World Urban Forum and delivered the first ever TEDx talk on music’s role in cities. He is also the recipient of Folk Alliance International’s Spirit of Folk Award in 2022.  Shain holds a PhD from the University of London and lives in East London, and is leading a module on music policy at the Harvard-affiliated Global Leaders Institute. He has also authored a course with Berklee College of Music on international music export, and helped create the Momentum Music Fund in England.

Our host, Hilary Knight, speaks with Jason Bruges, Founder and Artistic Director of Jason Bruges Studio, who create site-specific artworks and dynamic immersive experiences. They discuss the task of animating architecture, taking inspiration from nature and natural systems and devising opportunities for co-creating and community building in public spaces.Jason Bruges BioJason Bruges Studio has become internationally renowned for producing innovative installations, interventions and ground breaking works. This practice involves creating interactive spaces and surfaces that sit between the world of architecture, site specific installation art and interaction design. Considered a pioneer of this hybrid in-between space, Jason has subsequently paved the way for a new genre of design studios, artists and designer-makers. Born on 15th September 1972, Jason Bruges is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer based in London. Jason’s work blends architecture with interaction design and uses a high-tech, mixed media palette to explore spectacle, time-based interventions and dynamic spatial experiences. He is passionate about creating site-specific pieces that engage people with their environments.Jason Bruges trained as an architect at Oxford Brookes University and the Bartlett School of Architecture, (UCL). He worked with Foster + Partners for three years before moving to Imagination to become a Senior Interaction Designer. In 2002 Jason set up his own practice and now works with a talented team of people to develop and deliver interactive projects worldwide. The studio comprises of an experienced team of architects, engineers, industrial designers and computational designers as well as specialists in electronics, programming and project management.ReferencesJason Bruges Studio: https://www.jasonbruges.com/home/Jason Bruges Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonbrugesstudio/Eastbourne Alive: https://eastbournealive.co.uk/our-artists/jason-bruges-studioLux Automata, Artwork for DeepMind: https://www.jasonbruges.com/lux-automataEnergy Dynamics, Artwork for client: DTEK : https://www.jasonbruges.com/art#/energy-dynamics/Awe by Dacher Keltner: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622175/awe-by-dacher-keltner/ LinkedInsJason Bruges: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbruges/Jason Bruges Studio: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jason-bruges-studio-limited/

In her swan song as a host for The Three Bells, Criena Gehrke (Executive Director, Queensland Theatre) speaks with two leading figures in Calgary’s arts and culture scene, Alex Sarian (President & CEO, Arts Commons) and Nicholas R. Bell (President & CEO, Glenbow Museum). The dynamic conversation covers plenty of ground: from the magic and warmth of Calgary’s cultural scene to the personal and institutional responsibilities carried on the road to reconciliation with indigenous communities. The Three Bells podcast is produced by AEA Consulting for the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN). Sound mixing and theme music by Artwave Studio. ReferencesGlenbow: https://www.glenbow.org/Arts Commons: https://www.artscommons.ca/Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre: https://www.studiobell.ca/Central Library: https://calgarylibrary.ca/Contemporary Calgary: https://www.contemporarycalgary.com/Arts Commons Transformation Project: https://www.contemporarycalgary.com/Wanda Dalla Costa: https://www.avenuecalgary.com/city-life/how-indigenous-architecture-is-shaping-the-future-of-arts-commons/LinkedInsAlex Sarian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsarian/Nicholas Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-r-bell-6157b673/Wanda Dalla Costa, AIA, FRAIC, LEED AP:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawarc/Criena Gehrke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/criena-gehrke-783303106/***Alex Sarian BioFrom Madrid to Shanghai to New York City, Alex has worked with artists and arts organizations in fifteen countries spanning five continents. A Toronto native and fully bilingual, Alex was raised in Buenos Aires and moved to New York City in 2002, where he held senior executive roles at several arts institutions, including seven years at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In January 2020, at the age of 36, Alex was appointed President & CEO of Arts Commons, becoming the youngest executive to oversee a major performing arts center in North America. In this role, he is responsible for the third largest arts center in Canada, home to six resident arts organizations, and over 200 community groups and commercial presenters. Occupying over 560,000 square feet in the downtown core of Canada’s third most diverse city, the Arts Commons complex normally welcomes more than 600,000 visitors to its 2,000 events every year, and features rehearsal studios, production workshops, education spaces, art/media/sound galleries, restaurants, public community areas, and six performance venues—including the Jack Singer Concert Hall, noted by The New York Times as one of the best acoustic venues in North America.  Since beginning his tenure, Alex has led Arts Commons’ successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of free outdoor and digital programming, the creation of an Indigenous reconciliation strategy, an unprecedented investment in digital and accessibility infrastructure, and launched the single largest cultural infrastructure project in Canadian history—scheduled to break ground in 2024. Passionate about civic engagement, Alex volunteers on a number of international boards in the areas of education, philanthropy, economic development, advocacy and policy, and innovation.  Alex received undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University, is a graduate of the Community Shift program at Western University’s Ivey School of Business, and was an inaugural graduate of the Impact Program for Arts Leaders at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.Nicholas Bell BioOriginally from Vancouver, Nicholas joined Glenbow in 2019 from his position as Senior Vice President for Curatorial Affairs at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. Nicholas launched a formidable exhibitions program during his three years at the preeminent American maritime museum. He previously served as The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, where he led the Renwick’s relaunch, increasing attendance from 150,000 annually to one million. In 2023, Nicholas was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service to community. Nicholas is an author and editor of over ten books on art, museums, and contemporary culture and offers a proven background in spearheading change and successfully implementing strategic initiatives.

SummaryIn 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 that examines the often unrecognized co-dependence and open-ended collaborations between human and non-human beings. The project is led by Alserkal Advisory in collaboration with GCDN and with support from UAP – and features site-specific installations located in three cultural districts worldwide: Alserkal Avenue, Kingston Creative, and Victoria Yards.Guest bioTairone Bastien (he/him) is an independent curator based in Toronto and an Assistant Professor in the Criticism and Curatorial Practice program at Ontario College of Art and Design University. Tairone co-curated the inaugural Toronto Biennial of Art in 2019 and in 2022. From 2011-2016, Tairone established the arts program at Alserkal Avenue and the Alserkal Residency in Dubai, for artists, curators, and researchers in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. From 2005-2010, he was a curator for Performa in New York City, co-organizing the first three editions of the ground-breaking biennial of live performance art. Tairone holds a Master of Art from the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History with a Minor in Critical Studies in Sexuality from the University of British Columbia. External referencesA Feral Commons Website: https://aferalcommons.com/A Feral Commons ArtistsIo Makandal: https://iomakandal.com/Muhannad Shono: https://muhannadshono.com/Camille Chedda: https://www.camillechedda.com/Alserkal article detailing A Feral Commons: https://alserkal.online/words/the-global-co-commissionUrban Art Project (UAP): https://www.uapcompany.com/Alserkal: https://alserkal.online/Kingston Creative:https://kingstoncreative.org/Victoria Yards: https://www.victoriayards.co.za/Toronto Biennial: https://torontobiennial.org/Hassan Sharif: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_SharifAna Tsing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_TsingFeral Atlas, 79 field reports from scientists, humanists, and artists that show you how to recognize “feral” ecologies: https://feralatlas.org/Mushroom at the end of the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mushroom_at_the_End_of_the_WorldArticle detailing Chedda’s Art Exhibition: https://our.today/jamaican-camille-chedda-selected-for-climate-themed-art-exhibition/Juksgei River, Johannesburg South Africa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukskei_RiverWater for the Future, an organization dedicated to reviving the Jukskei river's ecosystem through collaborative, community-based spatial interventions. Collaborating with Makandal on her exhibition: https://www.waterforthefuture.co.za/ LinkedInsTairone Bastien : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tairone-bastien-6310608/?originalSubdomain=caAlserkal LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/alserkal/Camille Chedda:https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-chedda-8233bb33/Io Makandal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/io-makandal-schiess-6b693629/ InstagramsMuhannad Shono: https://www.instagram.com/muhannad.shono/Io Makandal: https://www.instagram.com/iomakandal/Camille Chedda: https://www.instagram.com/camillechedda/Alserkal: https://www.instagram.com/alserkalavenue/

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. The Three Bells podcast is produced by AEA Consulting for the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN). Sound mixing and theme music by Artwave Studio.External references:Handspring Puppet Company: https://www.handspringpuppet.com/Handspring Puppet Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/handspring-puppet-company/about/War Horse: https://www.warhorseonstage.com/learning/puppets/War Horse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Horse_(play)Life and Times of Michael K: http://www.quaternaire.org/handspring-puppet-co/life-and-times-michael-kThe Walk (Little Amal): https://www.walkwithamal.org/about-us/little-amal-the-walk/Little Amal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_AmalThe Walk Productions (Little Amal) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-walk-productions-little-amal/Bunraku: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BunrakuBarrydale Giant Puppet Parade: https://barrydaleparade.wordpress.com/The Walk, documentary by Tamara Kotevska: https://www.docnyc.net/film/the-walk/Simon Sinacs Ted Talk – How Great Leaders Inspire Action: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=enBios:Basil Jones is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Handspring Puppet Company. Jones completed his BFA at UCT. In 1990, Jones set up a not for profit NGO Handspring Trust, which produced the award winning Spider’s Place, an innovative, multi-media science education series for TV, radio an comic aimed at young learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Handspring Trust is involved in a number of projects in urban township and rural areas, using puppetry as a means to educate and empower youth and bring communities together through street parades and performance. He received the Naledi Executive Directors Award (2012), a lifetime achievement award from Tshwane University (2006) and an honorary doctorate in literature from UCT (2012). Adrian Kohler is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Handspring Puppet Company, and considered to be one of the world’s leading masters of his medium. He gained a BA Fine Art at the University of Cape Town and then spent a year at The Space Theatre and another in Birmingham U.K. at the Canon Hill Arts Centre and Weld Community Arts Centre. Kohler then moved to Botswana to run the National Popular Theatre Programme for three years. He has had a solo retrospective at the National Gallery in South Africa, and groups of his works have been shown at The Barbican Art Gallery, London and The Museum for African Art, New York. Kohler received the Michaelis Prize, a lifetime achievement award from Tshwane University (2006) and an honorary doctorate in literature UCT (2012). Handspring Puppet CompanyFounded by Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones (with Jill Joubert and Jon Weinberg) in 1981, the Handspring Puppet Company continues to explore, innovate and push the boundaries of puppetry and contemporary performance. Deeply inspired by traditional puppetry – such as the Bunraku puppeteers of Japan and the Bamana puppeteers of Mali – Handspring fuses ancient craft, technical innovation and modern dramatic themes. Over four decades, the company has collaborated with world-renowned artists, directors, musicians, actors and theatre groups performing in 295 cities in 30 countries.