Culture As A Middle Power
Earlier this year, at Davos, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to the world’s political and economic leaders, naming this moment as a rupture, and declared that the rules-based international order is effectively over. He called on 'middle powers' to collaborate on building a new world order. Is culture one of them?
Culture, globally, may be thought of as a 'middle power' - it works more subtly, more softly, but collectively can exert tremendous force on the world. Is the phrase, 'culture eats strategy for breakfast,' an adage that rings true from your perspective?
This is an invitation to gathering round and reflect on culture's multiple roles, and multiple authors, in a polarized and changing world. We want to hear from you. How can business, media, and tech work with artists and cultural institutions to build healthy, democratic, and responsible futures?
In this open conversation, two women in leadership discuss and invite debate about culture’s powers. From leading global media organizations to advising Fortune 500 brands, corporate trailblazer Kirstine Stewart has spent her career helping businesses and leaders thrive in disruption. Cultural innovator Helen Yung founded Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence in 2019, and co-founded Art/In Forum in 2024 with art, science, research, education, nonprofit, and business institutions around the world.
This is a free online event. Join from wherever you are in the world.
Presented by Sheridan College, an Innovation Partner at Art/In Forum, the global network for artistic intelligence.
Kirstine Stewart
From leading global media organizations to advising Fortune 500 brands, corporate trailblazer Kirstine Stewart has spent her career helping businesses and leaders thrive in an era of disruption.
Kirstine Stewart served on the Executive Committee for the Future of Media at the World Economic Forum, where she helped define the future of global media. Her strategic insights and industry expertise guided conversations on innovation, trust, and content, shaping how media adapts and thrives in a rapidly evolving landscape.
As Vice President of Media at Twitter, Kirstine Stewart drove transformative growth by leading strategic media partnerships across television, sports, news, and entertainment. Her leadership elevated Twitter’s position as the go-to platform for real-time conversation and breaking news.
As Executive Vice President of CBC, Kirstine Stewart led a bold transformation of Canada’s national broadcaster, driving record audience engagement and expanding its digital presence. Her visionary leadership introduced innovative programming and strengthened CBC’s position as an innovative leader in multi-platform content and storytelling.
Helen Yung
Cultural innovator Helen Yung founded Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence in 2019, and co-founded Art/In Forum in 2024 with art, science, research, education, nonprofit, and business institutions around the world.
Prior to this, Helen Yung co-founded Culture Days, Canada’s national cultural participation campaign, leading the digital strategy and cultural community engagement strategy. She was instrumental in paving the way for grassroots-led public engagement across the country, which has led to increases across arts participation, donation, education, sales, and volunteerism year-round, as verified by independent research.
In 2008, as the sole staff member for the Canadian Arts Coalition, Helen Yung was at the frontlines of cultural advocacy that led to the arts being on the national election agenda for 50 days straight. The Coalition’s policy recommendations were fully adopted by the Liberal Party as their cultural platform, which led to the historic doubling of the Canada Council’s operating budget when the Liberals came into power in the following election.
Helen Yung has served on the Board of Directors for both the Centre for Social Innovation, and Social Innovation Canada. She is a Salzburg Global Fellow, and a sought-after authority on artistic intelligence, and social innovation through the arts.