Kristine Leslie’s Post

I’m not an art man. But I am a culture man, and this exhibition made me think. Particularly about the challenges we face with placemaking and community-building. My posts here are mostly about the future of place… I try to remain positive but everyone can see the problems. The Francis Bacon exhibition inspired some thinking around it. His artwork explores the nature of ‘identity’ and the complexity that comes with it. This world leans to more digitalisation, simplicity and superficiality. Why are brands so shiny and artificial when they talk about community? True community embraces the raw, complex sides of humanity - even the parts we’d rather not see. It has to. For physical retail and the high street to survive we must build community spaces that feel real and inclusive. Less about the offering or fancy buildings. More about people. Another aspect of Bacon’s art which stood out to me was around solitude. It shows solitude is a necessary part of the human experience. Well-designed spaces should include quiet spots where people can enjoy solitude while staying connected to the community around them. Outside of expensive members clubs. True successful placemaking is about crafting environments that support the full, complex experiences of those who live in or visit them. Just a few thoughts from a non-art man, inspired by a brilliant exhibition.

🏢 The Hub is thrilled to be working with ArtsBuild Ontario and so many inspiring colleagues and partners as part of Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) for Art Spaces Advisory Committee and Leadership Circle! 🏢 This 3-year project that will provide arts organizations with skills development through training modules, case studies, and a Space Lab program. The project will provide a deepened understanding of and access to launching and managing social purpose real estate, with a focus on small and mid-size cultural organizations. Check out ArtsBuild Ontario's announcement below to learn more!

⭐ New research digest: Culture and Placemaking ⭐ What role can arts and culture play in placemaking? What does this mean for organisations, practitioners, policymakers and funders? There is a wealth of research on everything from the impact of cultural mega-events to exploring questions around place and wellbeing, gentrification and regeneration. But where to start? Centre for Cultural Value

🌍 How can children’s museums inspire the next generation of environmental stewards? Paul Fenton, Director of Environmental and Outdoor Education, shares how Discovery Museum’s “In/With/For” philosophy engages families in climate action and sustainability. Through programs like Outdoor Yoga, Winter Tree Buds, and hands-on activities like Modeling Molecules, families connect in nature, learn with nature, and take action for nature. These efforts, paired with a living sustainability plan and annual reporting, aim to inspire environmental stewardship in young minds. Discovery Museum is leading the way in fostering connections to the natural world. Learn more about how they do it in our latest edition of Hand to Hand: https://buff.ly/4gZA5Dx #ClimateEducation #ChildrensMuseums #ActForNature

Reflecting on a mistake our team made recently really drives home how much growth comes from learning. We overlooked collaborating with local artists while customizing pieces for our customers—something that could have added that unique personal touch. 🌟 Recognizing this, we took steps to actively seek out amazing local talent to truly embody the creativity and individuality our pieces represent. It not only enriched our offerings but also sparked inspiring conversations with these artisans, strengthening our community ties. The impact of this correction has been huge! Our customers now enjoy beautifully crafted items that tell a story—crafted sustainably, just for them. 🛠️✨ To avoid similar mistakes in the future, we established a simple strategy: always keep a lookout for local artists, attend craft fairs, and engage deeply on social media. This helps us stay connected to the vibrant creative community around us. Mistakes are just stepping stones on our path, reminding us that embracing collaboration brings us closer to our mission! 🌍💚 #LearnFromMistakes #SupportLocalArtists #Curatedsgn #CommunityLove #SustainableCrafts

Catch the Latest Spotlight Release! Katalina Silva, Ramel J. Wallace, Sr. Community Manager & Arturo Elenes How can design build bridges across borders? This episode of WDC Spotlight explores the dynamic creative ecosystem uniting San Diego and Tijuana, showcasing the power of design to connect communities and drive meaningful change in our region. Meet Katalina Silva and Arturo Elenes, founding partners in the design firm @Enigma Creative, the driving force behind Tijuana Design Week (TJDW), and the organizers of CreativeMornings Tijuana. Their work intersects with Ramel Wallace, Sr., Community Manager and Founder of The Holyfield, and organizer of CreativeMornings/ San Diego, creating a unique connection that bridges the creative communities of both border cities. The San Diego Tijuana region is a unique cultural tapestry, woven together through design, storytelling, and community building. Leaders like Katy, Arturo, and Ramel are not only strengthening the creative industries on both sides of the border but also fostering relationships that inspire growth and innovation. Their work highlights the shared narratives and design thinking that shape a thriving transborder community, proving that creativity knows no borders. Discover how their efforts are redefining our megaregion’s identity and unlocking new opportunities for collaboration and growth. 🎥 Stay tuned to meet the designers making waves, breaking barriers, and building connections that inspire us all - launching December 4th. #WDC2024 #PoweredbyCommunity #ConnectedbyDesign #CreativeConnections #SpotlightOnDesign Empírica Creative TEAM LEWIS The City of San Diego Ayuntamiento de Tijuana B.C. UC San Diego Design Forward Alliance Burnham Center for Community Advancement

I am delighted to share some of the key learnings from Boster Group’s time at this year’s #VeniceArtBiennale. As I do at each Art Biennale, I was delighted to moderate a roundtable discussion hosted by Bank of America, enabling leading voices from across the art world to connect, share insights and explore collaborative solutions. Our key takeaways – detailed in full in our report - were: - Designing (and re-designing) for purpose: The importance of thoughtfully changing the design of institution’s operations, curation and even physical space to better embrace the unique needs and lived experiences of local communities. - Supporting local needs feeds a global footprint: In such a globalised world, it is critical to focus on partnerships both at the local level - through bespoke, smaller programming - as well as the global level, achieving scale. - Trust enables innovation: The concept of ‘move fast and break things’ - which drives so much innovation in the corporate world - cannot be supported by existing financial structures in the arts. Instead, for partners across the arts, the key to leaning into a new structure for collaboration and problem solving is building trust which will foster longer term partnership, commitments and risk taking. https://lnkd.in/gaSb4kv4

🌟 Transforming Spaces: Best Practices for Curating Public Art 🌟 Our latest article provides essential guidelines for curating impactful public art projects. Discover strategies to create engaging installations that resonate with diverse communities and transform urban landscapes. Highlights: 1️⃣ Engaging the community to ensure meaningful, inclusive art. 2️⃣ Strategic planning and site selection for successful projects. 3️⃣ Embracing socially engaged practices to address social issues. 4️⃣ Building strong collaborations and partnerships. 5️⃣ Evaluating the impact to measure success and community benefits. 👉 Read more:

"Culture and Place: Why We Need to Look Beyond Cities" explores the crucial role of arts and culture in shaping our towns, provinces, and rural areas. John Wright delves into the concept of cultural placemaking, highlighting the need for a broader understanding beyond urban centers. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: 🔹 Placemaking has gained traction but remains a contested term with varied interpretations. 🔹 Grassroots approaches to placemaking show more positive socio-economic outcomes. 🔹 Research often overlooks non-urban areas, focusing predominantly on cities. 🔹 There's a disconnect between policy, research, and practice in cultural placemaking. 🔹 Emphasizes the importance of decentralizing decision-making to support local cultural activities. Discover why it's vital to consider the unique needs of rural and non-urban areas in cultural strategies. 🌎 📰 Read the full article from Arts Professional, here: bit.ly/3VXfiZx #CulturalPlacemaking #ArtsAndCulture #CommunityBuilding #RuralInnovation

Kelly Langgard, Director and CEO of Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, is co-moderating a panel today at the State of Cities Summit in Ottawa. Arts-Led City Building: How Arts and Culture Strengthen Cities, will explore how arts and culture can be instrumental in city building with a focus on placemaking, policy-making, and activation, and to offer advice to other cities on integrating arts into urban development strategies. "...returns on investment in the arts are tangible and significant, not only boosting the economy and fueling innovation, but also building community and civic engagement, and providing hope and opportunity, now and into the future." - Kelly Langgard To learn more and register for the free livestream, visit https://lnkd.in/g4HrEUw2 #SupportTheArts #ArtsandCulture #TorontoArts #Placemaking #StateofCitiesSummit #UrbanDevelopment #Ottawa Photo description: Kelly Langgard speaking at the Mayor's Evening for the Arts. Photo by Kat Rizza.