12. Culture, Organizing, and Identity (a lot of ways to slice that tomato) with Gonzalo Casals and Prerana Reddy

Gonzalo Casals is the Director of the Leslie-Lohman Museum. His experience ranges from innovative programming, authentic engagement strategies, and progressive cultural policy. As Vice President of Programs at Friends of the High Line, he led the organization in a transformative process to focus on equitable cultural practices. Gonzalo held various roles at El Museo del Barrio. His tenure was informed by ideas of cultural production as a vehicle to foster empowerment, social capital, and civic participation. Gonzalo continues to explore these concepts as member of the Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts New York (NOCD-NY).

Prerana Reddy is the Director of Public Programs & Community Engagement for the Queens Museum. She is also in charge of the museum’s community engagement initiatives that utilize a cultural organizing model to build inclusive civic engagement opportunities in nearby neighborhoods predominately comprised of new immigrants. These include the museum’s offsite immigrant arts & activism center Immigrant Movement International Corona and the collaborative design and ongoing programming of Corona Plaza. She was recently appointed by the Mayor to the NYC Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, which advises the Department of Cultural Affairs on increasing cultural equity and developing the City’s first comprehensive cultural plan.

artWork is FABnyc's podcast exploring at how art works in the world. Launched in 2016, artWork is an ongoing conversation with culture makers on the role arts and culture can play in strengthening communities. artWork is currently produced by FABnyc, hosted by Executive Director Ryan Gilliam with Associate Producer, Michael Hickey. artWork was originally conceived by former Executive Director Risa Shoup and Denise Shu Mei.