ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers

What happens when a theater director steps into a struggling town and ignites transformation through the power of shared stories? In a world where communities face trauma, disconnection, and invisibility, this episode explores how the ancient impulse to gather and perform stories can foster healing, agency, and real-world change. If you’ve ever wondered how art can truly make a difference, this co...

What do the arts have to do with resisting authoritarianism? And how do we, as creative community leaders, keep pushing for democracy when the odds feel stacked against us? If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the news, discouraged by political setbacks, or unsure how artists and cultural organizers fit into this urgent fight, you’re not alone. This episode brings powerful insights from the 22nd...

What happens when community theater, political leadership, and grassroots organizing collide? In today’s polarized climate, building authentic, inclusive community can feel impossible—especially across political, social, and cultural divides. But Kathie deNobriga has been doing exactly that for decades—as an artist, activist, and even as the mayor of a small Georgia town. Her story shows how creat...

What happens when your art, your activism or your organization’s mission makes you a political target? If you’re an artist, nonprofit leader, cultural organizer, or anyone working at the intersection of creativity and social change, you already know the landscape is shifting—and not in your favor. From sudden grant revocations to legal threats and public media cuts, values-driven arts organization...

What if the key to undoing bias and building empathy isn’t just policy or protest—but a complicated art and neuroscience dance that facilitates the rewiring the human brain? In this final chapter of our three-part Breaking Ice series, we move from the stage to the synapse. After witnessing how theater can unearth hidden truths and foster real conversations, we now explore the neuroscience behind i...

Can a scripted performance shift the way people feel—and act—about race, identity, and inclusion in their workplace? This is Chapter Two of our three-part journey into the world of Breaking Ice, a theater-based DEI program pushing against the mounting tide of resistance and rollback. Building on the emotional groundwork laid in Part 1, we now go deeper into what happens after the curtain rises—whe...

Can artists revive the powerful, but increasingly vilified, values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America? As DEI initiatives face growing backlash and politicization, many wonder whether the ideals of inclusion and justice can still thrive. This show originally shared in 2023 is the first episode of a three-part series that invites listeners into a raw, eye-opening performance that uses t...

What if changing a podcast title could spark a deeper, more powerful shift in how we understand the role of artists in shaping society? Not likely, but if you’ve ever felt like your creative work is meaningful but invisible in the fight for justice and transformation, this episode digs deep into how storytelling isn’t just a method—it’s the foundation. We’re in a moment where the narratives drivin...

How can the transformative power of art and culture serve as the connective tissue in movements for democracy, justice, and deep societal change? In our divided world , building genuine, arts animated cross-sector collaboration is more than a goal—it’s a necessity. This episode dives into how activist artists and cultural organizers can forge meaningful connections with their community social chan...

What if the secret to revitalizing today’s creative workforce lies in a forgotten 1970s government program? In a time when society urgently seeks sustainable ways to support artists and strengthen communities, in this episode, the second of two, we revisit the CETA Arts Program—a bold experiment that transformed artists into public servants. You’ll hear how this unexpected initiative is influencin...

Did you know the U.S. once launched a massive jobs program that empowered over 20,000 artists, and creative support staff—and then let it vanish from collective memory? For artists, educators, and community leaders seeking sustainable support for creative work, the forgotten story of the CETA Arts Program offers a powerful historical lesson. In a time of economic uncertainty, this 1970s initiative...

What can we learn from artists who survived the chaos of 1980s prisons—and how can their lessons help us resist authoritarianism today? From the Center for the Study of Art & Community , this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where artivists share and learn the skills and strategies they need to thrive as creative community leaders. My name is Bill C...

Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today’s social movements? From the Center for the Study of Art & Community , this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what they need to thrive as creative change agents. M...

The MAGA storm system continues to exert a profound influence on community members, activist artists and cultural organizers living and working in Minneapolis' Powderhorn Central Community. Bill Cleveland's dialogue with Noel Raymond reveals the complexities of navigating activism amidst the destabilizing forces fast moving Trumpian juggernaut. Raymond describes the fraught material emotional land...

What happens when a writer steps into a prison and discovers more than just stories behind bars? In this episode author and educator Jim Reese shares vivid stories and hard lessons from more than a decade working with incarcerated men. In a world obsessed with punishment over understanding, this episode dives deep into the transformative power of writing in places most people never dare to go. If...

Summary In this Change the Story, Good Trouble “Weather Report ” episode, Michael Bobbit, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council , joins host BC to examine the turbulent climate for arts and social change under the Trump regime. From the erosion of DEI policies to looming threats against public arts funding, Bobbit underscores the urgent need for advocacy and proactive engagement across t...

Summary In this powerful and personal conversation, MASS Cultural Council Executive Director, Michael Bobbitt explores the life-saving role of the arts, how creative work is inherently political, and the deep importance of joy, community, and innovation in building a better future. Drawing on his personal story, leadership journey, and groundbreaking initiatives, Bobbitt challenges arts organizati...

Summary Weather Report: The Art & Activism Forecast from Minneapolis In this episode, we kick off a new Change the Story feature— The Weather Report —where we check in with creative change-makers across the country to get a pulse on how art and activism are faring in their communities. First stop: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our guest is David O’Fallon , a longtime cultural leader with deep roots...

Change the Story GoFundME Campaign Along with many of our guests, we believe we have come to a place in the American story that calls for both pushing back AND pushing forward. To do our part in this,  we want to grow our audience, do more in-depth serial episodes, use our expanding archive to help artists learn about art and social change work. Up to now,  Change the Story  has bee...

 Thank You For Listening Its been 4 years and 116 episodes. Now, we’re at a turning point. Our listeners are asking for  more —more in-depth storytelling, more tools for teaching and advocacy, and a broader reach. To make that happen, we’ve launched a  GoFundMe campaign  to help sustain and expand the podcast. You know as well as anyone that the world needs these stories now more t...

Summary Can somethings as mundane a publishing be a revolutionary act. This podcast episode delves into the profound significance of mission centered publishing as illuminated through the life and work of Lynne Elizabeth, the founding director of New Village Press. Our conversation underscores the notion that books serve as instruments for social change, bridging divides and igniting action within...

Lily Yeh, a globally celebrated artist and community arts pioneer, shares her transformative journey of using art to foster healing, hope, and resilience in marginalized communities around the world. Drawing from her experiences in places like Philadelphia, Rwanda, and China, she emphasizes the power of collaboration and the importance of community engagement in creating meaningful public art. Yeh...

Summary This podcast episode features a compelling conversation between Bill Cleveland and Jack Bowers , highlighting the transformative power of arts programs within the prison system. Bowers shares his experiences as a musician and educator at Soledad Prison, emphasizing how curiosity and opportunism led him to create profound connections and foster a vibrant creative community among incarcerate...

Episode Summary In this second of two episodes exploring democracy as a creative practice Bill Cleveland leads a rich discussion with theater workers Arnaldo Lopez, Ben Fink, and Scott Rankin, and labor organizer Ken Grossinger , who share how artistic endeavors can bridge differences, foster justice, and inspire community engagement. The conversation delves into the transformative power of storyt...

DEMOCRACY is a practice that we haven't been practicing. The gap between the story we've been telling ourselves about our participatory democracy and our actual experience leaves us unprepared for the Resistance and Reclamation project that we're about to undertake. To get better at Democracy, we need to treat it as a creative practice! This is the first of two episodes that explore the intricate...