Caffeinated Conversations
Caffeinated Conversations
This program is designed to go beyond the traditional networking event to facilitate real, meaningful relationships through robust topical discussion.
We are curating a list of facilitators with unique perspective or expertise to guide discusson on timely topics related to art, culture and the intersections with our lives in community.
These engaging sessions start with some social time, followed by discussions guided by curated facilitators with a unique perspective on a specific, timely topic. Engage with peers in the creative community around themed conversations that respond to the evolving needs of the arts and culture sector.
- The cost for this program is underwritten by our supporters
- Free to attend
- Open to the public
Balancing and Juggling: Navigating Complex Cultural Issues
- November 6, 2024
- 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
- Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey
Let's get together, the morning after an important election, to explore, share, and imagine how we have, will continue to, and could possibly navigate some complex cultural issues.
In a supportive and friendly environment, we will have the opportunity to discuss our organizational strategies, challenges, and visions for:
- assessing and responding to the cultural needs of our communities.
- balancing perceived cultural needs with mission driven aspirations through cultural programming- (whether our perceptions are data driven or anecdotal)
- addressing politically charged contexts with public statements.
- balancing the ethical foundations of our organizational missions with the concerns and interests of board members and major donors.
- balancing our educational missions with revenue generating activity.
Facilitator: Sheila Ruen
Sheila Ruen is the Visual Arts Director at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, Michigan. Previously, she served as the Education Director at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, the Galleries Director at Crooked Tree Arts Center, Arts and Design Department Chair at the William Penn Charter School, a Quaker, an Independent School in Philadelphia, and taught as an adjunct instructor at various schools, including Chicago State University, Philadelphia University, and Stanford University. She studied digital design at the University of Edinburgh, enjoyed a post-graduate painting residency at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Karlsruhe, earned an MFA from the University of Michigan, and a BFA from the California College of Art. Her most recent creative endeavor is called: From Algae to Zeugma, a card game that explores associations between images and texts.
Getting Curious About Art That Makes Us Uncomfortable
- November 13, 2024
- 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
- Location TBD - Traverse City
Does art ever make you feel bored? Is art ever confusing or does it even challenge your worldview? There is a rich history of uncomfortable art changing the shape of how people see things. In this conversation we will create a safe space to discuss tools for approaching art that makes us uncomfortable.
Facilitator: Kate Korroch, Ph.d.
Kate Korroch, Ph.D. (she/they) is a curator, editor, and writer based in Traverse City, MI. Korroch just completed a doctorate in visual studies at University of California, Santa Cruz. Most recently Korroch curated Ace Lehner’s Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure for SPRING/BREAK NYC 2024 and co-edited Women We Love: Femininities and the Korean Wave (Hong Kong University Press 2023). Korroch is a co-editor of Visual Studies and editorial assistant for Art Journal.