Participate in the important questions of our time. The Forum is a conversation and speaker series that brings people together to explore challenges and opportunities that affect human flourishing through the lens of the humanities and civic imagination.

You’re invited to the January 22, 2025 gathering of The Forum featuring Priya Sicar.

Just how creative is Charlotte? What is the state of art and culture in the city? What is the future of public-private support for the arts?

Priya Sicar has answers. Sicar is the Arts and Culture Officer of the City of Charlotte and Former Director of Arts at John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, charged with developing and implementing strategies to support the arts in Charlotte.

While many arts practitioners strive for positive change, our communities and leaders are often mired in existing methods, philosophies, and structures even when it’s clear those no longer serve artists and art in the region. Sicar will address what holds us back and how we can help our communities envision new realities through bold, incremental advances.

Priya has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

Moderated by David ‘Dae-Lee’ Arrington

David ‘Dae-Lee’ Arrington is a Grammy nominated producer,Telly Award-winning writer, leadership coach, and creative entrepreneur. He is the owner of Bridge Building Consulting, co-owner of Hue House creative agency, founding member of Fair Play Music Equity Initiative, and host of the Bridge Builder Conversations podcast.

Connect. Consider. Ignite. Doors open at 6:00 to mix and mingle. The program runs from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM including time for conversation, connections, and Q&A.

The Forum has a three-part structure:

• First third: Participants connect in small break-out groups prompted by a question;

• Middle third: Participants consider a presentation by a guest speaker that ends with a question posed to the audience;

• Final third: Participants discuss the question, igniting new ideas and possibilities.

Event ticket is $25. This is an in-person event with limited seating.

Location: Community Matters Cafe, 821 W 1st St, Charlotte, NC 28202

About The Charlotte Center

The Charlotte Center is a community forum and civic action catalyst that invites curious people into meaningful connection and problem-solving informed by deep consideration of the human experience. Our mission is to help people and communities flourish.

The Charlotte Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We are supported by individual donors, grants, sponsorships, and revenue from our programs. We invite you to join us.

thecharlottecenter.org