Changemakers in the Cultural Sector (Panel Discussion)
Changemakers in the Cultural Sector is a panel discussion about the future of the arts and the ways creative professionals can help build stronger communities. Co-hosted by ArtWRKD and moderated by WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane, the conversation brings together artists, curators, producers, cultural organizers, and creative entrepreneurs to examine access, visibility, collaboration, sustainability, and new ways of creating cultural opportunities.
The discussion will consider how the arts can serve the next generation, how cultural organizations can become more responsive to their communities, and what can happen when artists and organizers take the initiative to create change themselves. Panelists will share successes and challenges while imagining a more inclusive, innovative, connected, and impactful cultural future.
When: Sunday, November 22, 2026
Showtimes: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Venue: The Newtown Theatre, 120 North State Street, Newtown, PA 18940
Tickets: Price not available
Hosts: The event is co-hosted by ArtWRKD and facilitated by Marty Moss-Coane, host and executive producer of WHYY’s “The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane.” Moss-Coane previously hosted and executive-produced WHYY’s award-winning “Radio Times” for 35 years.
Panelists: Ashara Shapiro, founder and curator of ArtWRKD, will discuss arts education, mentorship, cross-generational learning, sustainable creative practices, and alternatives to traditional career pathways.
Panelists: Jonathan LeVine, founder of Jonathan LeVine Projects, brings experience championing artists and movements outside the traditional art establishment, from punk and underground culture through his Chelsea gallery and current collaborative work.
Panelists: Joe Montone, founder of Stage United, focuses on bringing live music to the places where people live and gather through concerts, festivals, and Bucks County collaborations that emphasize access, community connection, and sustainable local infrastructure.
Panelists: Clint Flack, whose work with the Mercer Museum connects exhibition-making with the preservation and interpretation of cultural history, will offer a perspective on honoring the past while making room for new voices and approaches to culture.
Format: The event is a candid, moderated conversation about the cultural sector, creative leadership, community access, and the development of new models for cultural organizations and artists.