Thought Leadership

Over the course of the programme, several members of the cohort established themselves as thought leaders in their fields, strengthening the role of arts and culture in their cities.

Karishma Rafferty (London) gained recognition in the field of using arts and culture to enable collective action in response to the global climate crisis. Through her development grant work, Karishma became a key contributor in the consultation around the redevelopment of Strand-Aldwych, a new pedestrianised area in central London. She contributed to discussions, and hosted workshops with local community groups developing creative solutions around environmental sustainability in the city, submitting their collective findings to the local council. She continues to work in collaboration with different audiences, local stakeholders and council officials to develop playful and participative processes engaging Londoners in these themes and collective challenges.

Russel Hlongwane (Durban) has established himself not only as a prominent cultural influencer in his home city, but as a thought leader across the cultural sector of South Africa; he was invited to share his Creative Producers International learning with the Durban Tourism Board investigating ways to make the city more playful, was selected by NESTA through a call for theorists to speculate on the future of the internet and was recently nominated for the Most Patriotic South African Arts Ambassador Award.

Sarah Brin (International) became Strategic Partnerships Manager at Meow Wolf. She is a sought-after public speaker in the field of play and immersive experiences and specialises in developing strategies for bringing unprecedented creative and technological experiences to life. She has collaborated with San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hammer Museum and The European Union.

“The impact [of Creative Producers International] is pervasive and deeply embedded within all areas of my work.