Creating Global Communities: Art's Role in Developing Vibrant Communities

Join us for an interactive and dynamic panel to discuss how art can be a powerful tool in rebuilding communities by promoting healing, unity, economic growth, cultural preservation, and social change. It provides a means for individuals to connect, express themselves, and envision a more positive and resilient future. 

Panelists: 

1) Carol Bebelle (a.k.a. Akua Wambui) is a native New Orleanian and a proud product of the New Orleans public school system. She received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University in sociology, and her master’s degree from Tulane University in education administration. She spent nearly 20 years in the public sector as an administrator and planner of education, social, cultural and health programs. Bebelle is a constant voice, a frequently sought presenter and advocate for the primal role of culture in establishing a quality life in urban environments especially New Orleans. Her day-to-day laboratory for this work is the Ashé Cultural Arts Center where the daily agenda is created by the intersection of culture, community and art. 

2) Adam Hayward is originally from the UK, where he gained a masters in Performance Studies from Central School of Speech and Drama under Dr. Susan Melrose then worked for the Centre for Performance Research alongside artistic directors Richard Gough and Judie Christie, Adam Hayward moved to New Zealand in 2000. He spent 14 years (2002-2015) running a highly successful dance and performance festival (The Body Festival) as well as a myriad of other arts projects. He now runs his own production agency (Hyde Productions) which aims to work with artists of interest from wherever and whenever giving time to breathe to the creative process. Focusing on removing the pressure and barrier of time and space in the act of creation, product is not the intention or drive of Hyde Productions, rather attention is given to connections, networks sharing, context and ‘space to fail’. He is the designer of ‘Space to Fail’ an international exchange process based residency project which was trialed in 2019/20 with the Dance Centre in Vancouver, Critical Path in Sydney and his own agency in Christchurch; a board member of ‘Human Performance’ a new organization charged with managing a new set of purpose built spaces for dance, performance and circus (Move) currently under construction. General Manager for Arts Integrated, a trust working with young disabled artists providing training opportunities in the performing arts; Art Projects Manager for the YMCA including delivering partner dance into low socio-economic primary schools via a project he designed called ‘Dancing Like the Stars (2007-present); Lecturer in Event Management at Lincoln University and father to six-year-old Rupert aka #luxurycomedybaby. 

***Moderator: Prof. Leslie Scott, Tulane University***

Sponsors: Tulane Global, Department of Theater & Dance, BODYART