How can city leaders encourage young storytellers and creators to grow into the next generation of artists. Does an arts-centric location have a responsibility to use its leaders to lead?

That's just one of the questions Mike and Nancy posed to the two guests in this podcast.  We welcome Dr. Marci Mazzarato and assistant professor Kristin Wedlock of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. Their wide-ranging conversation covers film, digital and writing insights for the next generation as well as the duo's startup of the Bread and Roses Film Festival. Bread and Roses is the first woman-centric film festival and is taking place in October in Asbury Park. Take a listen.

Seven years ago, Carla Vanzant and her husband, Semaj, found that there were few options in the Monmouth County New Jersey area in Summer Camps suited for their small boys at the time. They decided to start their own camp, INSPIRE LIFE, which has grown into a multi-faceted enterprise of arts and academic programs for young people, especially Black and brown children.

At ArtsRule, we are on the hunt to uncover the best practices for cities looking to enhance their encouragement of the arts, We thought INSPRE LIFE has developed an evolving roadmap, to cultivate the next generation of artists and art appreciators, with their offerings of after school and summer programs at the New Jersey shore.

Mike and Nancy talk with Asbury Park artist and entrepreneur Dallas Hlatky. Listening to the interview, one senses the joy in creating and the way in which the city of Asbury Park has been a partner in her journey. The passions that drive artists extend to their environments, so a sense of place is a key to their creative process. Asbury Park's position as a magnet that draws makers to create is still alive, but for how long?  How will the arts-centric heritage of the city thrive as development continues?   Listen and find out.

Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino have a conversation with Jim Watt, an artist who lives and works in Asbury Park, NJ. This wide-ranging discussion touches on many aspects of what qualities a city should have to be classified as "arts-centric". Jim's perspective as an artist, architect and now filmmaker unpacks his  distinction of perception versus reality in this 15,000 person city. Does Asbury Park "check the box" to qualify as an arts-based locale? 

Listen and find out. 

Since 1999, publisher Dan Jacobson has brought his political and economic insight to the TRI-CITY NEWS, an arts and culture weekly in which he can offer his ideas about the nature of life lived along the East Coast of Monmouth County New Jersey.  Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino spoke with Dan about his observations on the growth of the arts and culture scene in Asbury Park, Red Bank and Long Branch New Jersey and his unique perspective on what makes a city arts-vibrant. 

Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino engage with Evan Snow, co-founder of Zero Empty Spaces, an initiative to activate vacant commercial real estate primarily in retail settings to make affordable artist studios at a low monthly rate.
 
 After listening to the interview, check out Zero Empty Spaces on their website.

Find more interesting news and commentary on how ArtsRule in other cities at our website and sign up for announcements of our next podcast.