05/15/2026
Over the last two weeks, members of our leadership team have been traveling for conferences centered around public art, storytelling, collaborative practice, and the future of community-rooted creative work.
First, we traveled to the 2026 Monument Lab School of Monumaking in Philadelphia, where artists, organizers, and practitioners gathered to explore how monuments and public memory can create spaces that honor truth, belonging, and lived experience.
One especially powerful moment was hearing Devon M. Henry speak about his team’s role in the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond, Virginia, and what it means to physically and culturally move history. The entire experience challenged us to think more deeply about memory, storytelling, and the responsibility that comes with community-centered commemorative work.
This week, we continued that momentum at the Ohio Arts Council conference in Cincinnati. Between sessions focused on public art and collaborative community practice, we spent a lot of time reflecting on what the next evolution of Trillium Project could become.
Some of the most meaningful moments happened outside the conference rooms, walking through the city together, processing ideas, and imagining all the possibilities.
We’re coming home with a lot of inspiration and excitement for what comes next. These experiences help reinforce the idea that art isn't separate from community transformation... it’s the entry point.
