Geraldine Ysselstein
For artist, writer and creative consultant Geraldine Ysselstein, a life centred around the arts wasn’t entirely unexpected, given her experiences while growing up.
“When I was in high school, we moved into a stone schoolhouse from the 1860s and hosted house concerts and an art gallery for 11 years. It was a very unconventional way to grow up, but I think my parents were hoping that this experience would inspire my sisters and I to become musicians, but it actually introduced me to the concept of being an arts manager and working behind the scenes to support artists.”
A self-described “curious learner,” Geraldine’s arts work and studies led her to an interest in artistic activism, specifically around safe spaces, somatic abolitionism, reconciliation work, social justice and social change. “Social change for me is awareness about social issues, and then social justice is the response to the awareness about social issues. This is my definition. I believe social change and social justice requires the sharing of lived experiences, the deep listening and reflection, the embodied integrated into our lives, and then a response that is in collaboration with those who have been impacted by these social issues that are perpetuated by harmful systems and structures.”
Geraldine is leading a breakout room at this year’s Living a Creative Life Congress, where she and other members of the arts community will share thoughts around how artists might lead the way to a more equitable, inclusive and accessible city where everyone belongs.
“We’re exploring this question through the lens of our city’s new branding, which is Blue Sky City,” she explains, “because I’m very passionate about artists leading social change, and I’m also curious about what it means when artists lead social change in the place that we live in, and I’m looking forward to artists sharing their ideas around this question, and how we can live up to the promise and potential of truly being a Blue Sky City.”
Tune into this week’s Storytelling Podcast to hear more about Geraldine Ysselstein’s view on art for social change as well as what else she’s looking forward to at this year’s upcoming Living a Creative Life Congress.
About The Storytelling Podcast
Sharing diverse stories of creativity in our city, The Storytelling Podcast shines a spotlight on artists and projects that connect Calgarians to the arts. Part of The Storytelling Project, this series raises awareness about Calgarians who, by living creative lives, are making Calgary a better city, affecting positive change and enriching others’ lives.
Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
