What does it mean to root culture in place — and what happens when you do?

Join Kitty Scott, Strategic Director of Shorefast and Fogo Island Arts, and Michael Rubinoff, Artistic Director of the Musical Stage Company and originating producer of Come From Away, on Thursday, May 28 at 2:30pm (NL) / 1:00pm (ET) / 10:00am (PT) for a compelling conversation on how the arts can serve as a powerful catalyst for economic development and a deep sense of belonging.

Drawing on Fogo Island’s remarkable model of community-embedded arts practice — where contemporary art, ecological resilience, and local economic renewal are inseparably intertwined — and on the global phenomenon of Come From Away, which transformed the story of a small Newfoundland town into Canada’s most successful musical export, Scott and Rubinoff will explore how authentic engagement with place can generate creative work that resonates far beyond its origins, attract investment and visitors, foster community pride, and demonstrate that culture is not a luxury but a cornerstone of sustainable local economies.