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How do you build a museum around a subject that’s constantly evolving?  As CEO of Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), Michele Y. Smith is helping preserve what refuses to stand still. With exhibitions spanning music, film, fashion, gaming, and fandom, MOPOP examines pop culture not simply as entertainment, but as a reflection of the ideas, identities, and social changes shaping our lives in real time.  In this episode, Michele explores what it means to preserve cultural history while remaining responsive to the present, and why our personal connections to pop culture can become a powerful source of shared experience. ---- LINKS: Museum of Pop Culture: https://www.mopop.org/ Styled by the Streets: Black Women in Hip-Hop Fashion: https://www.mopop.org/exhibitions/styled-by-the-streets

What changes when artists aren’t simply invited to perform, but are given a seat at the table where ideas, policies, and solutions take shape? Joseph Fowler has spent his career moving between artistic disciplines, institutions, and cultural ecosystems around the world. After training at The Royal Ballet School and performing professionally as a dancer, his curiosity took him behind the scenes as a director, producer, programmer, and cultural leader—from London and Paris to Dubai. Today, as Head of Arts and Culture at the World Economic Forum, he brings artists and creative thinking into conversations about some of the world’s most complex challenges. In this episode, Joseph reflects on the evolution that took him from performer to cultural leader, makes the case for creative imagination as an essential tool for solving problems, and explores why technology represents an opportunity as well as a challenge for artists. He also takes us inside the World Economic Forum’s arts and culture programming, including the 2026 opening concert in Davos and The Cultural Table—an initiative designed to put artists at the center of conversations with leaders across business and civil society. ----- LINKS: World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/  World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 Opening Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCi_3S3s_60 World Economic Forum Cultural Table: https://www.weforum.org/stories/arts-and-culture/the-cultural-table-how-arts-and-culture-can-drive-global-change-and-collaboration/

The future isn’t something that simply happens to us. It’s something we help create through the stories we tell, the technologies we use, and the choices we make about how to live together. Baratunde Thurston has spent his career exploring what that responsibility looks like across comedy, media, civic life, and nature. Again and again, his work returns to a deeply human question: how do we embrace change without surrendering our agency? His latest award-winning project Life with Machines turns this question on technology, exploring how new tech shapes our lives—and how we might shape it in return. In this episode, Baratunde reflects on what it means to treat ‘citizen’ as a verb, why conversations about AI demand more nuance, and how we can all take a more active role in shaping our collective future. --- LINKS Life With Machines: https://www.lifewithmachines.media/ How to Citizen: https://www.howtocitizen.com/ American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence: https://americanindigenousdemocracy.com/

Rebranding a beloved institution requires not only defining what comes next, but building enough trust and shared ownership that both longtime supporters and new audiences see themselves in the future. Courtney Burke Summers recently helped lead the sweeping rebrand of Celebrity Series of Boston into Vivo Performing Arts, launching a new identity designed to better reflect the organization’s role in its community. In this episode, Courtney shares what it took to bring people along through that transformation and why meaningful change can only happen at the “speed of trust.” She also reflects on the opportunities and challenges of being a nomadic presenter; the value of collaboration across the arts ecosystem; and what most arts organizations are forgetting about the next generation of audiences.  ----- LINKS Vivo Performing Arts: https://www.vivoperformingarts.org/  The REACH at the Kennedy Center: https://www.kennedy-center.org/reach/  Libby: https://libbyapp.com/

What if a museum’s job isn’t simply to preserve history, but to help us imagine a different future? Lisa Yun Lee has spent her career exploring what cultural institutions can make possible when they understand themselves as civic spaces. As Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago, she leads an institution created by public housing residents to preserve their own histories, challenge dominant narratives about public housing, and bring arts, culture, and public policy together in the fight for housing as a human right. In this episode, Lisa traces the winding path that took her from studying religion and German intellectual history to the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, the University of Illinois Chicago, and ultimately the National Public Housing Museum. She shares how the museum puts solidarity with public housing residents into practice, why museums should engage both historical fact and lived experience, and what it means to create a cultural institution rooted in radical hospitality and collective joy. Lisa also challenges arts leaders to think expansively about whom our institutions serve and what success looks like—from compensating artists and cultural workers fairly to creating spaces where people can define beauty for themselves. --- LINKS: National Public Housing Museum: https://nphm.org/ NPHM 36 Questions for Civic Love: https://nphm.org/program/36-questions-for-civic-love/ W.A.G.E.: https://wageforwork.com/

A great exhibition or performance can draw people in, but a strong institutional brand shapes how they understand the experience—and whether they feel invited to return. Kim Jakominich has spent more than 15 years working across publishing, public media, museums, and cultural destinations. Now Chief Brand Officer at the Barnes Foundation and Calder Gardens, she leads an integrated team spanning marketing, communications, publications, design, editorial, and visual resources, helping steward two distinctly different brands while creating a more unified audience experience. In this episode, Kim reflects on the unexpected path that brought her from Minnesota Public Radio to museum leadership, what she learned by realizing she needed mission-driven work, and how the Barnes’s philosophy of “seeing art differently” influences everything from visitor experience to brand strategy. She also takes us inside the creation of Calder Gardens, where art, architecture, and nature come together in an experience intentionally “open to interpretation.” Kim also shares lessons for cultural leaders on breaking down departmental silos, thinking about brand through the eyes of the audience rather than the organizational chart, and reframing innovation as something more meaningful than chasing new technology. For her, the question is ultimately whether an idea removes barriers, sparks curiosity, and helps audiences discover that art has something to say to them. --- LINKS: Barnes Foundation: https://www.barnesfoundation.org/ Calder Gardens: https://caldergardens.org/ The BrandLab: https://www.thebrandlab.org/

As our attention becomes increasingly fragmented, the value of being fully present together has never been greater. The most memorable experiences go beyond spectacle and  create a clear sense of place, invite participation, and give people something meaningful to feel together. Ann Morrow Johnson has spent her career designing those kinds of experiences. After more than a decade at Walt Disney Imagineering, she now co-leads Gensler’s Entertainment practice, applying lessons from theme parks and immersive entertainment to cultural organizations, hospitality, real estate, and other physical spaces. In this episode, Ann Morrow explores why authenticity matters more than showmanship, how shifting from a scarcity mindset to a value-creation mindset can open up new possibilities, and why growing demand for shared, participatory experiences gives cultural organizations plenty of reason for optimism. --- LINKS: Gensler 2025 Immersive Industry Report: https://www.gensler.com/gri/immersive-industry-report-2025  No Proscenium: https://www.noproscenium.com/

Join Monica Holt for a live recording of Arts Unscripted with Marc Bamuthi Joseph, an internationally acclaimed cultural strategist, spoken word artist, and Chief of Impact at SOZO. Bamuthi has built a singular career at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and social impact—from performing on Broadway and co-founding Youth Speaks to shaping civic and cultural strategy at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the Kennedy Center. Throughout it all, he has approached art not simply as expression, but as a tool for freedom, connection, and collective possibility. Recorded live at the 2026 Tessitura Learning and Community Conference, this conversation explores what it means for arts organizations to be true civic partners. Bamuthi and Monica talk about collective joy, why “budgets are moral documents,” the idea of using the arts for non-arts outcomes, and what becomes possible when institutions see themselves not just as producers of shows, but as producers of culture and inspiration. Along the way, Bamuthi reflects on the evolution of his own practice, the role of artists as “edge setters,” the grief and resilience that have shaped his recent work, and why—at a moment when inspiration can feel scarce—he still finds hope in the artists and arts leaders who keep choosing this field.

Producer's Note: While Arts Unscripted is on summer hiatus, we're re-sharing a few of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Clive was actually the first guest to sit down and chat with Monica. The YoungArts application is open now through October 6th, so it's the perfect time to revisit how Clive thinks about supporting young, multi-disciplinary artists. --- Can legacy arts institutions innovate like start-ups? Clive Chang thinks so. As President and CEO of YoungArts, he’s reimagining how a 40-year-old organization can support today’s multi-disciplinary artists—by questioning everything, embracing experimentation, and making space for creative risk. In this conversation, Clive and host Monica Holt unpack how to disrupt old habits, build a culture of curiosity, and keep tradition from becoming inertia.

Producer's Note: While Arts Unscripted is on summer hiatus, we're re-sharing a few of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Cody recently celebrated Tony Award-winning runs with two Broadway productions: Ragtime and CATS: The Jellicle Ball. With CATS set to close on August 8, it's an apt moment to revisit Cody's reflections on the production (and grab tickets while you still can). ----- Great theater starts by creating trusted conditions for talent and creativity to thrive. Cody Renard Richard is a Tony Award-winning producer and stage manager whose career spans Broadway, television, opera, and even Cirque du Soleil. Along the way, his backstage leadership has shaped acclaimed productions like the 2025 revival of Ragtime and this spring’s CATS: The Jellicle Ball. In this episode, Cody talks about what it really means to lead from behind the scenes, and why stage management is such a powerful training ground for leadership. He reflects on his path through the industry, how he’s navigated power and visibility in a field that doesn’t always make room for everyone, and what it looks like to advocate for artists and audiences without burning out or losing yourself in the process. ----- LINKS: Cody Renard Richard: https://www.codyrenard.com/ Ragtime at Lincoln Center: https://www.lct.org/shows/ragtime/ CATS: The Jellicle Ball: https://catsthejellicleball.com/  RISE Theatre Directory: https://risetheatre.org/

Producer's Note: While Arts Unscripted is on summer hiatus, we're re-sharing a few of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Carlos Simon is the the inaugural Composer Chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Composer-in-Residence since 2021 at the Kennedy Center. Since we recorded earlier this year, his Good News Mass keeps finding new orchestras and new audiences. With its Midwest premiere on July 31st at Ravinia Music Festival, what better moment to go back and hear how Carlos has built his body of work. ----- Music has the power to move a room. For composer Carlos Simon, that effect was first felt in church, where music was both a creative act and a shared experience.  Raised in a family steeped in ministry and musical tradition, Carlos grew up surrounded by gospel, jazz, and the spontaneity of worship. From playing organ by ear during Sunday services to his later work with orchestras, film, and opera, he has built a compositional voice that blurs boundaries: bridging sacred and secular, improvisation and form, tradition and innovation. In this episode, Carlos traces his path to becoming one of today’s most sought-after composers and the first-ever Composer Chair for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Along the way, he offers insight into the deeply collaborative nature of his work and frames musical composition as an act of service. ----- LINKS: Carlos Simon: https://www.carlossimonmusic.com/ brea(d)th: https://www.carlossimonmusic.com/album/brea-d-th Monuments: A Suite for DC: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivals-series/250-years-of-us/sounds-of-us/monuments/ The Blacknificent 7: https://www.instagram.com/blacknificentseven/

Producer's Note: While Arts Unscripted is on summer hiatus, we're re-sharing a few of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Shanta Thake is the vision behind Lincoln Center's free Summer for the City festival happening right now through August 8 in New York. It's a good moment to go back and hear how she thinks about building a season for an entire city, not just a subscriber base. ----- Shanta Thake sees artistic curation as a practice rooted in curiosity and community connection. As the Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Shanta is helping redefine what one of the world’s most storied institutions can be. Since joining in 2021, she’s helped usher in an era of experimentation and access to ensure the arts remain central to New York City’s civic life. In this episode, Shanta reflects on what it means to democratize the programming process, how the arts contribute to community wellbeing, and why leading with curiosity sparks meaningful innovation. She also takes listeners behind the scenes of initiatives like Lincoln Center’s West Side Expansion and Summer for the City—efforts rooted in humility, collaboration, and partnership with local communities. ---- LINKS Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: https://lincolncenter.org/ Summer for the City: https://lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/

A festival lasts only a few weeks or months each year, but the work of leading one never stops. Jeffrey Haydon has spent his career at the helm of some of the country’s most respected music festivals, including Ojai, Caramoor, and now Ravinia Festival, where he serves as President and CEO. Drawing on a background that bridges music and business, he has led major capital projects, expanded educational and community programs, and navigated moments of organizational transformation. In this episode, Jeffrey reflects on what makes festivals such distinctive cultural institutions; the leadership lessons he’s learned across three decades in arts management; and how Ravinia continues to balance its rich classical legacy with new audiences, artists, and ideas. ----- LINKS Ravinia Festival: https://www.ravinia.org/  Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/index.html

The Tony Awards often celebrate the names on a show poster, but every Broadway production is carried by countless artists whose work rarely fits neatly into a category. So in anticipation of this year’s awards ceremony, we’re spotlighting a few of the performers, collaborators, and creative forces behind nominated productions. Beth Callen follows her curiosity wherever the music leads. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and educator, she has traveled from indie folk stages and an all-female Guns N’ Roses tribute band to some of Broadway’s most acclaimed productions, including Head Over Heels, A Strange Loop, Suffs, and now The Lost Boys.  In this episode, Beth discusses the realities of building a career as a working musician; why mentorship matters for the next generation of artists; and how greater visibility for pit musicians can deepen our appreciation for the live magic that happens eight times a week on Broadway.   Links Beth Callen: https://bethcallen.com/ The Lost Boys: https://www.lostboysmusical.com/ Maestra: https://maestramusic.org/

The Tony Awards often celebrate the names on a show poster, but every Broadway production is carried by countless artists whose work rarely fits neatly into a category. So in anticipation of this year’s awards ceremony, we’re spotlighting a few of the performers, collaborators, and creative forces behind nominated productions. Victor Vazquez has spent his career expanding the possibilities of who gets seen onstage and whose stories Broadway embraces. As the founder of X Casting and casting director for CATS: The Jellicle Ball, Victor has helped build one of the most joyful, original, and culturally electric productions of the season from the ground up.  In this conversation, Victor offers a rare look inside the audition room, reflects on what it means to bring Ballroom culture into the spotlight with care and authenticity, and discusses why he remains hopeful about the future of theater and the artists shaping it. —— LINKS CATS: The Jellicle Ball: https://catsthejellicleball.com/ X Casting: https://www.xcastingnyc.com/ The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: https://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa