Creative Placemaking Across the Political Divide

Is it possible to get liberals and conservatives to talk about politics without resorting to name calling? What if there were a way to get ordinary people from both sides of the political divide to discuss politics and policy using art and a creative process? We interviewed Washington D.C.-based creative placemaker Philippa Hughes when we were together at the 2019 Tom Tom Festival and Summit for a panel on creative placemaking. Hear her tell the story about how her curiosity about people's political views prompted her to start Blueberries and Cherries, a series of dinners that puts  'blue' and 'red' people together over dinner for civil discourse and how those dinners have evolved into larger events at art venues. Our interview took place in early April just as she was about to bring her concept to six other cities in the United States in collaboration with New American Economy and the American University School of Public Affairs. 

Host: Andrea Orlando  lives, records, and writes from her home in New Jersey. Contact her at andrea.orlando.530@gmail.com