RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Presents Owning Our Future: A Symposium – A National Conversation on Cultural Ownership and BIPOC-Led Spaces
In This Time of Great Uncertainty in the Arts, Pittsburgh’s Black and Queer Led Kelly Strayhorn Theater to Spearhead this Four-day Event Bringing Together Visionary Leaders from Across the Nation to Engage in Powerful Conversations and Celebrate the Transformative Power of BIPOC-led Cultural Spaces.
Photo credit: Beth Barbis
(PITTSBURGH, PA – April 22, 2025) – Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) – Pittsburgh’s premier performing arts home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people – is excited to announce Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership. The groundbreaking four-day event marks the first of its kind in the institution’s history and will convene visionary leaders in the arts, activism, urban planning, philanthropy, and government from around the country to engage in powerful conversations and celebrate the transformative power of BIPOC-led cultural spaces. This national symposium is set to take place from May 15-18, 2025 at KST (5941 Penn Avenue, East Liberty in Pittsburgh, PA). Tickets are available on a Pay What Moves You basis, ranging from $150 – $300 for the Symposium Pass and $15 – $40 for Single Tickets, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org.
As arts institutions across the nation navigate through the recent mandates instituted by the current administration – from the federal government’s takeover of the Kennedy Center to the halting of federal funding for DEI initiatives – KST created Owning Our Future… as a means to open a crucial and timely national dialogue centering BIPOC institutional ownership, asking the bold and pressing question: “Who gets to own the spaces where our cultural futures are shaped?” This inquiry explores themes of cultural representation, equity, and access, focusing on the physical and institutional ownership of arts spaces led by communities of color.
With the symposium, the Black and Queer-led KST reimagines bold new financial, operational, and physical models to empower BIPOC-owned arts spaces in the 21st century facing survival and sustainability challenges. The event will feature successful ownership case studies, share emerging strategies for success, and provide actionable insights for both community leaders and policymakers to advance equitable ownership solutions. Additionally, issues such as the persistent ownership gap shaped by systemic inequities – including redlining, discriminatory lending, and insufficient philanthropic support for BIPOC institutions – will be addressed over the course of the event. Through cross-disciplinary conversations, participants will explore ways to overcome these obstacles and develop pathways toward sustainable, community-owned cultural spaces.
For KST, the symposium is especially prevalent as its own theater lease expires in 2029 without the prospect of extension or purchase—a situation mirroring the precarious position of countless cultural institutions in the United States and around the world, particularly those founded by and serving communities of color.
“As conversations around ownership, equity, and cultural representation move from the margins to the mainstream, the critical question of cultural space ownership remains largely overlooked. We recognized the greater need for a platform to examine the idea of ownership that extends far beyond buildings, far beyond even our own institution and far beyond just the city of Pittsburgh,” noted KST’s Co-Executive Director, Joseph Hall. “The symposium will delve into that bigger picture and highlight emerging models for cultural space, including those used by organizations nationally across real estate development, media, democratically governed investment funds, and more. This represents the ongoing fight for the preservation of cultural homes that nurture artistic expression, community identity, and collective memory in an increasingly divided political landscape.”
The Symposium will feature a mix of discussion panels, keynote speakers, and performances. Highlights include:
- Four Keynote Speakers: Lisa Yancey (NY), national cultural strategist and Yale professor; Shyla Spicer (OR), President and CEO, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation; Andy Shallal (DC), former Washington, D.C. mayoral candidate and founder of the eight-location Busboys and Poets restaurant chain; and F. Javier Torres-Campos, renowned philanthropic leader.
- Three Panel Discussions: Panel topics include Transformative Operational Practices: Building Collaborative and Adaptive Organizational Structures; Radical Financial Innovations: Emerging Models in BIPOC Cultural Ecosystems; and Envisioning the Future: Designing Community-Centric Spaces for Cultural Empowerment.
- Two Performances: A dynamic series of performances by Pittsburgh and national artists supported by KST over the past 25 years, including MacArthur Genius and Pittsburgh-native choreographer Kyle Abraham.
Conceived as a call to action, Owning Our Future… seeks to shape the future of cultural ownership in America at a pivotal moment in our nation’s discourse. The symposium further reinforces KST’s role as a leader in redefining the intersection of cultural expression and institutional power. By elevating diverse voices and providing a platform for collective dialogue and a space for cross-industry collaboration, KST is catalyzing meaningful change where BIPOC communities have the tools, resources, and support to own and control their cultural spaces. Following the event, a comprehensive report will be shared nationwide to amplify the impact and continue the momentum of this crucial work.
For more information and to register for Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership, please click HERE.
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SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 15, 2025
11:00am – 1:30pm Keynote Speaker: Lisa Yancey
Lisa Yancey is the president of Yancey Consulting, co-founder of The We’s Match, and the creator of THE DASH. Drawing from her expertise in organizational and cultural strategy and justice-based systems change, Lisa will examine cultural strategy as a tool for a thriving Pittsburgh. She will highlight the importance of intergenerational and cross-industry cultural strategy, distinguish arts from culture, and provide concrete examples of where cultural strategy was the catalyst for thriving cities and businesses.
7:30pm – 10:00pm Film Screening: East of Liberty
East Liberty was once Pennsylvania’s third most prosperous commercial business district, but disastrous urban planning in the 1960s saw both the central business area decimated and tower blocks erected leaving residents isolated in the sky. Sixty years later and the broken traffic patterns are corrected, shops are plentiful, and neighborhood housing is some of the most sought after in the city.
In the documentary East of Liberty, Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Chris Ivey explores issues of race and class and addresses residents’ fears about gentrification. The film is meant to create a historical record that conveys the essence of community change and expose taboo topics using frank conversation, which most redevelopment efforts ignore—from displacement to neighborhood violence to discussions of socioeconomics. Nearly two decades after its debut at KST, East of Liberty makes its powerful return, inviting us to reflect on what community and cultural ownership mean today.
The film is approximately 1h 40min. Following the screening, join us for a discussion with filmmaker Chris Ivey and former Executive Director of the Kingsley Association, Malik Bankston.
Friday, May 16, 2025
5:00pm – 6:00pm Cocktail Hour
6:00pm – 6:45pm Keynote Speaker: Shyla Spicer
In July 2020, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) and Yale Union (YU) proudly announced the transfer of ownership of the land and historic Yale Union building in Southeast Portland, Oregon, from YU to NACF. Shyla Spicer, President and CEO of NACF, reflects on the organization’s transition through this major expansion of assets and the significance of reclaiming space for Indigenous artists. She explores the role of creative land stewardship in Indigenous self-determination and how securing space for cultural expression strengthens Native communities for generations to come.
7:30pm – 9:00pm Arts Program: Front & Center
KST’s Local and Global Performance Program commissions, develops, and presents evening-length works of dance and theater from artists working at the intersection of personal investigation and formal inquiry. Featuring artists with long-standing relationships to Kelly Strayhorn Theater and its flagship program, this two-night showcase presents excerpted works of dance and theater that speak to artistic development in Pittsburgh with an eye towards the national and international stage. Friday night’s program features: Balafon West African Dance Ensemble with Oronde Sherif (Pittsburgh, PA), Alisha Wormsley (Pittsburgh, PA), and Jasmine Hearn (Houston, TX), Adil Mansoor(Pittsburgh, PA), and slowdanger (Pittsburgh, PA).
9:00pm – 11:00pm KST Lounge with Live Music
Saturday, May 17, 2025
9:00am – 10:00am Breakfast
10:00am – 10:45am Keynote Speaker: F. Javier Torres-Campos
Javier Torres-Campos is a philanthropic leader dedicated to liberated, self-determined futures. As the founder of Liberation Partners, he curates networks of leaders who center care, community, imagination, and power-building to support nonprofit and social ventures in creating the just worlds we deserve. His work across various roles has spanned 20 years of cultural strategy, placemaking, and community investment throughout the United States. His keynote shares learnings from the field about what contributes to involuntary displacement, highlights effective preservation strategies and explores the importance of ownership models for cultural preservation.
11:30am – 1:30pm Panel Discussion: Transformative Operational Practices
Panelists explore transformative operational practices that cultivate a deep sense of ownership of culture, community, ideas, and organization. They highlight innovative working and programmatic models within BIPOC-led cultural institutions that prioritize collaboration, empowering artists and community members to shape their narratives and contributions. Through inclusive governance, shared leadership, and active community engagement, these institutions are reshaping their operations to be more responsive and adaptive.
Moderated by artist Veronica Corpuz from #notwhite collective (Pittsburgh, PA), panelists include Jasiri X from 1Hood Media (Pittsburgh, PA), Lara M. Evans from First Peoples Fund (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Kyle, South Dakota), and Shaddai Livingston from Ashé Cultural Arts Center (New Orleans, LA).
1:45pm – 2:45pm Neighborhood Tour with Terri Baltimore
Attendees can join Pittsburgh’s legendary griot, Terri Baltimore, for an engaging guided bus tour of East Liberty. With decades of experience as a storyteller, historian, East Liberty-raised resident, and community advocate, Baltimore brings to life the rich cultural history and complicated transformation of East Liberty.
Through her captivating storytelling, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the struggles, resilience, and triumphs that have shaped this evolving Pittsburgh neighborhood. The tour paints a vivid picture of the people, places, and events that form East Liberty’s unique identity. More than just an exploration of a neighborhood, it’s an opportunity to reflect on themes of culture, power, and the strength of storytelling to preserve community memory.
3:00pm – 5:00pm Panel: Radical Financial Innovation
From community-focused fundraising and revenue-sharing initiatives to impact investing and cooperative ownership, this panel spotlights groundbreaking financial models currently being implemented by BIPOC arts organizations. Panelists share success stories and strategies that expand possibilities for nonprofit funding.
Moderated by Khamil Bailey from Greenwood Plan (Pittsburgh, PA), this panel is joined by Cierra Peters and Tomashi Jackson from Boston Ujima Project (Boston, MA), Ken Ikeda from CAST (Community Arts Stabilization Trust) (San Francisco, CA), Darren Isom from The Bridgespan Group (San Francisco, CA), and Derrick Tillman from Bridging the Gap Development (Pittsburgh, PA).
7:30pm – 9:00pm Arts Program: Front & Center
KST’s Local and Global Performance Program commissions, develops, and presents evening-length works of dance and theater from artists working at the intersection of personal investigation and formal inquiry. Featuring artists with long-standing relationships to Kelly Strayhorn Theater and its flagship program, this two-night showcase will present excerpted works of dance and theater that speak to artistic development in Pittsburgh with an eye towards the national and international stage. Saturday night’s program includes: Jesse Factor (Pittsburgh, PA), Sidra Bell Dance New York (New York, NY), PearlArts Movement & Sound (Pittsburgh, PA), A.I.M by Kyle Abraham (New York, NY) and more.
9:00pm – 11:00pm KST Lounge with Live Music
Sunday, May 18, 2025
9:00am – 11:00am Breakfast
10:00am – 12:00pm Panel Discussion: Envisioning the Future
“How can we foster a sense of community both within and beyond the building’s physical limits? How can BIPOC organizations assert ownership of their spaces, both culturally and physically?”
This discussion focuses on visionary approaches to designing and utilizing physical spaces that promote cultural ownership and empowerment. Panelists will explore how innovative design practices, inclusive community engagement, and sustainable building strategies are shaping the future of BIPOC-led arts spaces.
Moderated by Kilolo Luckett from ALMA | LEWIS (Pittsburgh, PA), with Jonathan McCrory from the National Black Theatre (New York, NY), Allan Co from Crescere Collaborative (New York, NY), and Cristal Chanelle Truscott from The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (Chicago, IL).
1:00pm – 1:45pm Keynote Speaker: Andy Shallal
Artist, social entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Busboys and Poets, Andy Shallal, delves into the power of ownership in cultural spaces. Drawing from his experience building Busboys and Poets—an innovative restaurant group in the DMV where art, culture, and politics intentionally collide over mindfully sourced food, drinks, books, and events—Andy will highlight how intentional spaces can ignite activism, equity, and resilience, shaping a future where Black and Brown-led arts institutions thrive.
All Weekend
Looking Glass App by Adrian Jones
What if a camera could unearth the history buried within a neighborhood? From that image grew Looking Glass, an app-based archive of Black life in Pittsburgh, equipped with an augmented reality lens created by Pittsburgh artist Adrian Jones. Use the app’s map feature to discover markers where people, events, and institutions are remembered. At each location, you can examine artifacts like photos and videos and activate site-specific AR sculptures. Looking Glass facilitates meaningful connections to history and, in turn, helps to imagine and pursue a more just future.
Lifting Liberty by Njaimeh Njie
Lifting Liberty is a collage, photo, and text meditation on the legacy of Black cultural spaces in East Liberty. From Howe School of Dance to the Selma Burke Art Center to the Shadow Lounge, a constellation of creative places and people have shined bright for more than a century in the neighborhood. The installation pulls from archives and contemporary source material to amplify East Liberty as a hub of creativity despite its history of cultural displacement. Looking at the past and with an eye on the future, Lifting Liberty imagines an East Liberty where arts are anchored for the next 100 years.
ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER
Named after 20th-century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. We welcome our home to all who uplift Black, Indigenous, people of color, and queer voices.
KST is an institutional arts anchor in Pittsburgh’s East End that has served the community for more than two decades. Since launching KST Presents programming in ’08, KST has been Black-led, fostering radical imagination for Black and queer arts, culture, and community in Pittsburgh by cultivating BIPOC and/or queer artists, entrepreneurs, and arts administrators, developing their careers, and shifting narratives around Black possibility.
THANKS TO FUNDERS AND SPONSORS
