Making Space For Art And Culture, with Sabrina Richard and Christina Bagatavicius

06/13/23 • 41 min

How do consultants and architects approach working with communities, arts organizations, and city builders to successfully develop or redevelop new cultural spaces? What are the true foundations of arts infrastructure and what’s next in the future of cultural planning?

In this edition of AT THE MIC, we bring you a conversation about some essential contemporary approaches to imagining and reimagining cultural spaces. Our guest Sabrina Richard and moderator Christina Bagatavicius will share some of their wisdom gleaned from twenty years of experience. They are the co-founders of the Bespoke Collective, a forward-looking creative consultancy that is committed to redefining how culture and civic life bring people together.

ACCA acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for this podcast series. / Nous remercions le Conseil des Arts du Canada pour son soutien à cette série de balados.

Sabrina Richard is the Director of Research and Planning at Bespoke Collective. An architect by training and a cultural planner by profession, Sabrina has led numerous large scale and complex architectural and cultural planning projects across Canada and internationally spanning needs assessments, feasibility studies, strategic planning, and community engagement. She is dedicated to the realization of thoughtful, dynamic, and meaningful cultural spaces enriched by innovative design, public engagement, community activation and inclusive consultation.

Sabrina is also a published author, designer and strategist focused on building a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient arts and culture ecosystem. Some of her recent projects include support for Indigenous Fashion Arts (IFA), the New Orleans Triennial of Art (Prospect), the Public Art Strategy for the Downsview Lands Development.

As the Principal of Bespoke, Christina Bagatavicius believes in forward-looking cultural programming, uplifting public engagement processes, and communications that captures the hearts and minds of a wider public. She collaborates with inspiring and creative clients who are committed to making lasting positive change.

Christina brings over fifteen years of international experience working with renowned culture and city building projects. Prior to launching Bespoke, she was the Curator and Head of Interpretation at the Tate in London, where she shaped the visitor experience for a world-leading art museum. During her time as a Project Director at Bruce Mau Design, she worked with a global roster of creative clients, from the Oprah Winfrey Network to the Liverpool Biennial.

ACCA acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for this podcast series. / Nous remercions le Conseil des Arts du Canada pour son soutien à cette série de balados.

Previous Episode

Embracing Distinctiveness Through A Rural Arts Consulting Practice

Does working as an arts consultant with clients in a rural location differ in approach from working with clients in an urban setting? It can, yes. Rural and remote communities hold distinctive nuances that overlay a way of life to which arts sector development is not immune. Knowing what these nuances are and understanding how to both embrace and navigate them offers a path for stronger, webbed, resilient arts communities!

Cate Proctor (LinkedIn)

Having lived on an island on Canada’s east coast and having established Proctor Shift Consulting while there, Cate Proctor’s arts sector consultancy bridges multiple geographies. Grounded in senior arts administration and creative industry roles, her clientele ranges from rural artist collectives, festivals and municipalities to national and international projects involving multiple partners of diverse sector and artistic origins. Cate leans into arts sector development projects that centre artists within strategic and multi-sector partnerships while cultivating collaborative and trust-based relationships.

Cate is the author of Leverage the Arts Ecosystem to Influence Local Prosperity. Published in September 2020, her book offers artists, arts administrators and civic- or community-minded leaders, both strategies and tactics to centre artistic value in programming and community-building development. The book has generated much interest from across Canada, the United States and Britain and ranked #17 in Amazon Books ‘Art and Business’ category (2022).

Cate is both founding Co-Chair and member of Mass Culture’s Research Working Group and an active member of Arts Consultants Canada. Her current focus at PAL Ottawa engages an expansive team piloting a new, innovative, affordable live/work option for senior artists and arts workers.

Bridget MacIntosh

LinkedIn
Twitter: @bridgetannmac
Instage: @bridgetannmac

An award-winning strategist and creative producer, Bridget has held senior municipal management positions with portfolios spanning arts, cultural policy, public art and festivals.

A trusted arts leader, she continues to work with municipalities, and organizations across Canada and internationally – engaging, questioning, facilitating, and designing to build resilient communities, networks and organizational models. Her consultancy practice is particularly focused on exploring the power of intersectoral collaboration and leveraging opportunities for cultural expression to be championed and meaningfully integrated into everyday life and protected through public policy. Bridget is the founding Co-Chair of Mass Culture’s Research Working Group, a Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leadership Lab Fellow, a Next City Vanguard and an IETM Global Connector.

ACCA links:

Next Episode

Challenging Consulting Norms and Hearing Communities’ Stories

How do consultants work effectively with diverse and marginalized communities, especially those who may challenge consulting norms? How do they build meaningful relationships in order for authentic community voices and data to be gathered?

In this episode of At The Mic, consultants and ACCA members, Dr. Terri-Lynn Brennan and Annalee Adair discuss their approach to working with equity deserving groups and Indigenous communities. They emphasize the importance of trust, relationship building, and challenging norms in their work. They share their experiences in challenging systems and measuring change, particularly in engaging with diverse communities and giving voice to marginalized groups. They highlight the concept of story reporting, where they collect and present qualitative data that honours the authenticity of voices in the community.

Link to slides discussed in this episode:

ACCA: