Each year, Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia hosts an annual gathering exploring pressing issues in the arts. We dive into matters impacting arts professionals on local and national levels through dynamic speakers, engaging programming, and industry networking.

Our 2017 Keynote Speaker!

We are so proud to announce our incredible speaker for this, our fifth annual Creative Conversation – a yearly conference exploring the professional arts community in Philadelphia.

Yolanda Wisher is the 2016-17 Poet Laureate of Philadelphia. A 2015 Pew Fellow, Wisher is the author of Monk Eats an Afro and co-editor of Peace is a Haiku Song. Wisher performs a unique blend of poetry and song with her band The Afroeaters. In April 2017, she organized the first pop-up poetry festival in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. She is currently working on her second book of poems, a recording of original poems and songs, and a collection of essays inspired by her laureateship.

We hope you’ll join us. Tickets are limited, so reserve now!

Our 2017 Breakout Conversation leaders!

Our afternoon of conversation will be led by some of Philadelphia’s most influential and rising creative professionals.

Justin Diberardinis, Bartram’s Garden

Michelle Freeman, Witty Gritty and Urban Consulate

Rebecca Johnson, Philadelphia AIA & Parking Day Philly

Michael O’Bryan, The Village of Arts and Humanities

Jay Wahl, Kimmel Center