'Changemakers' Coming To Newtown To Discuss Future Of Arts, Culture, And Community

NEWTOWN, PA — What happens when the people shaping culture stop talking about what could change and begin asking what they can actually build?

On Sunday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the historic Newtown Theatre, ArtWRKD will bring together four creative leaders who are challenging conventional models of arts engagement, cultural preservation, education, and community development for "Changemakers in the Cultural Sector," a thought-provoking public conversation about the future of the arts and
the responsibility — and opportunity — of those who are part of it.

The discussion will be moderated by WHYY broadcaster Marty Moss-Coane, whose distinguished career has helped shape public dialogue throughout the Philadelphia region for more than three decades.

At a moment when cultural institutions are confronting questions of relevance, accessibility, sustainability, and changing audiences, event organizer Ashara Shapiro of ArtWRKD said "Changemakers in the Cultural Sector" moves beyond familiar conversations about the challenges facing the arts and instead takes on a more urgent question: What are we willing to do differently?

Bringing together perspectives from contemporary art, arts education, live music, and cultural history, Shapiro said the panel will examine how independent cultural leaders are creating opportunities outside traditional institutional structures, forging new partnerships, and reimagining the relationship between artists and the communities they serve.

The speakers at the November event will include:

• Ashara Shapiro, founder and curator of ArtWRKD in Newtown, is the person behind the fall forum. She is working to build a new ecosystem for the creative sector rooted in arts education, mentorship, and cross-generational learning. Through exhibitions, immersive experiences, artist development, and an emerging apprenticeship-based Certificate of Mastery program, Shapiro is developing alternative pathways for artists to acquire knowledge, build sustainable creative practices, and participate in a more interconnected cultural economy. Her work challenges traditional distinctions between artist, educator, institution, and community.

Ashara Shapiro.

• Jonathan LeVine, founder of Jonathan LeVine Projects, has spent decades championing artists whose work exists outside the conventional art establishment. Emerging from punk and underground cultural movements, LeVine went on to establish an influential presence in New York's Chelsea gallery district. His evolving collaborative model raises compelling questions about the future of galleries, the role of the curator, and how independent artists can gain visibility and opportunity in an increasingly complex art market.

Jonathan LeVine

• Joe Montone, founder of Stage United, is reshaping how live music connects with local communities. Through concerts, festivals, and partnerships across Bucks County, Montone is
  building a more accessible and sustainable infrastructure for live performance. His approach considers music not simply as entertainment, but as an essential component of community identity, economic vitality, and shared cultural experience.

• Clint Flack, of the Mercer Museum, brings the perspective of cultural preservation and historical interpretation. Through his work connecting exhibitions, collections, and public
  engagement, Flack explores how cultural institutions can honor the past while remaining relevant to contemporary audiences. His perspective invites a larger conversation about whose histories are preserved, whose stories are told, and how museums can become active participants in shaping cultural understanding.

Clint Flack

The discussion will be moderated by Marty Moss-Coane, host and executive producer of The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane on WHYY, a weekly program exploring what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose.

For 35 years, Moss-Coane hosted and executive produced WHYY's award-winning Radio Times, becoming one of the Philadelphia region's most respected voices in public affairs,
culture, and civic dialogue. Known for her thoughtful questions, intellectual curiosity, and ability to bring diverse perspectives into meaningful conversation, Moss-Coane will guide the panel beyond individual experiences toward the larger questions facing the cultural sector.

The discussion will attempt to answer the questions, "Who gets access to the arts? Who gets seen, supported, and remembered? How do we create meaningful pathways for emerging artists while preserving the knowledge and contributions of those who came before them?" And perhaps most importantly, how can cultural leaders move beyond working independently to build a stronger, more collaborative creative ecosystem, said Shapiro.

The questions are particularly relevant in Bucks County, where a rich history of artistic expression, cultural institutions, and independent creative enterprises presents extraordinary opportunities for collaboration and innovation, said Shapiro.

"Culture is not something that simply happens around us. It is something we create, sustain, and pass forward," said Shapiro. "We have an opportunity to rethink how artists are supported, how knowledge is shared, and how cultural organizations work together. This conversation is about moving beyond what has always been done and beginning to imagine — and build — what comes next."

While the panelists represent different disciplines and professional experiences, they share a commitment to expanding the possibilities of cultural participation. The conversation will consider both the successes and limitations of existing models, the value of collaboration across
generations and disciplines, and the importance of cultural leadership in creating vibrant, resilient communities.

"Rather than offering a single vision for the future, Changemakers in the Cultural Sector invites audiences to consider their own roles in shaping it," said Shapiro.

"The event is intended for artists, educators, cultural professionals, creative entrepreneurs, community leaders, arts supporters, and anyone interested in the role creativity plays in the social and economic life of a community, because the future of culture will not be determined solely by the institutions we inherit, but by what we have the imagination and conviction to create together," said Shapiro.

Event Information

Event: Changemakers in the Cultural Sector
Date: Sunday, November 22
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.

Location: The Newtown Theatre, Newtown, Pennsylvania
Presented by: ArtWRKD
Moderator: Marty Moss-Coane, WHYY
Panelists: Ashara Shapiro, Jonathan LeVine, Joe Montone, and Clint Flack
Information: artwrkd.com