Dreaming Together: 5 Takeaways from a Season of Conferences & Events

Over the past several months, CAST staff have connected with peers across the country and around the globe—from Calgary to New Zealand, San Francisco to Pittsburgh—both in person and virtually. Whether on the ground or on Zoom, we’ve had the chance to listen, share, and learn alongside other inspiring leaders and changemakers all working to build more equitable cultural infrastructure. Through a packed circuit of conferences—including the Creative Land Trust Summit, the Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) Summit, and “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership“ hosted by Kelly Strayhorn Theater—we’ve gained a renewed sense of solidarity, purpose, and imagination.

These moments of connection reminded us: while the contexts vary, the questions are shared. How do we get capital to flow toward community-defined outcomes? How do we hold onto relationships as we scale? How can we seed not just buildings, but ownership?

Below are just a few of the takeaways—and inspirations—we’re bringing back with us.

1. There’s No One Way to Do This Work—and That’s a Good Thing

At the Creative Land Trust Summit, we had the opportunity to share our story and host attendees at Warfield Commons for a day of dialogue and connection. The range of models presented, from artist-led co-ops to city-backed cultural hubs, underscored something critical: diversity in approach is a strength.

What worked in Helsinki won’t work the same in San Francisco. And that’s okay. CAST’s model, deeply rooted in the Bay Area, isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution—it’s one among many. But we can learn from other tools and adapt them.

For example, we’re paying close attention to:

• Music Venue Trust (UK), which helps save grassroots music spaces
• ArtHubs Canada, focused on creating accessible spaces across the country
• Kaapeli (Finland), a former cable factory transformed into a cultural center

These diverse projects push us to dream in different directions—and remind us we’re not alone.

2. Relationships Matter More Than Ever

At the Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) Summit in Los Angeles this May, the most powerful conversations happened in one-on-one moments. The interdisciplinary gathering brought together community real estate leaders from across North America, but what stood out wasn’t just scale—it was care. From the School of Arts and Culture‘s vision to redevelop 12 blocks in San Jose to Local Color‘s session on fiscal sponsorship, the summit emphasized relationships, shared learning, and the deep intention behind creating spaces that truly serve.

So many of the most effective projects are led by scrappy, relationship-driven organizations that have earned trust over time. Even large-scale developments grow from seeds planted by small groups willing to sit down with neighbors and build together.

We’re also tracking innovative ownership strategies that challenge conventional real estate thinking—models that create long-term pathways to community control, often by creatively leveraging partnerships and challenging assumptions about who can steward high-value space. These examples remind us that when communities are trusted as owners, they not only care for space—they transform it.

As our Director of Operations Matthew McTire observed, developers of color—especially Black developers—often face distinct barriers to investment and legitimacy. Many have had to approach the work differently to overcome baked-in industry bias, which makes relationship- and values-driven development all the more powerful.

3. Language Can Unite—or Divide

Some sessions moved quickly through complex concepts, often using language that assumed a shared knowledge base. Terms like “meanwhile lease” (a short-term lease granted at nominal rent to activate an otherwise vacant space) and “peppercorn rent” (a symbolic or nominal fee for rent) were used without explanation, which may have left some attendees behind. It was a reminder that even within aligned movements, we’re often speaking different dialects—depending on our geography, sector, or stage in the work. As the field grows, we’re learning how important it is to slow down, define our terms, and build a common language so no one gets left out of the conversation.

We’re now asking: How do we create shared understanding, without flattening nuance? How do we bring new folks into the fold without making the conversation feel inaccessible?

4. Dreaming Big Requires a Structure

As our Senior Advisor Joshua Simon put it, “Dream big, because there is somebody out there who has worked out the details of our dreams.”

At the Creative Land Trust Summit, we witnessed just how much the field is evolving. From cities like Sydney, Vancouver, and Denver who are starting to pilot new ownership models to organizations stewarding multi-million-dollar assets, the diversity of approaches was matched by a shared willingness to be transparent about the challenges. It wasn’t just a showcase—it was a working space, where funders, practitioners, and public sector leaders came together to ask hard questions and think collectively: How do we balance speed and trust? What types of capital can align with community control? How do we ensure permanence without losing flexibility?

Still, these dreams require structure. One SPRE session emphasized the importance of getting agreements signed early, especially for community-rooted groups leveraging scaffolding provided by larger organizations. Without that, collaborations can collapse under their own weight.

5. What’s Next: Building a Global Practice of Sharing

Across gatherings, a shared sense emerged: the value of staying connected beyond the conference itself. As communities around the world navigate parallel challenges—from displacement to cultural erasure—there’s growing interest in creating space for ongoing global dialogue. Not a formal network, but a practice of exchanging ideas, lessons, and inspiration across contexts. The work is different everywhere, but the spirit of solidarity and mutual learning is something we all benefit from.

Holding Vision in Complex Times

We’re more committed than ever to learning alongside others. This moment—marked by economic volatility, climate crises, and shifting political landscapes—demands more than isolated efforts. It calls for collaborative visioning, collective action, and brave experimentation.

We’re grateful to everyone who has shared their wins, failures, and frameworks with us. And to those just getting started: your work matters. Keep dreaming. We’re dreaming with you.