StageLync Podcast Ep. 88: DEI and Audience Engagement in the Arts with Donna Walker-Kuhne
Donna Walker-Kuhne, an award-winning thought leader, writer, and strategist, joins the StageLync Podcast for a powerful continuation of the conversation on equity, access, and cultural transformation in the arts. Building on insights from our recent feature, Donna Walker-Kuhne: Leading Change in the Arts, this episode goes deeper into how meaningful change happens, not through one-off initiatives, but through sustained commitment, education, and community-centered strategies.
As President of Walker International Communications Group and an adjunct professor at New York University and Columbia University, Donna brings over 40 years of experience shaping how arts organizations engage audiences. In this conversation, she expands on the realities facing both nonprofit and commercial sectors today, offering a grounded perspective on resilience, representation, and the evolving role of the arts in society.
From audience development to community engagement, Donna shares actionable strategies for organizations navigating shifting audience behaviors, generational expectations, and the increasing demand for mission-driven work. This episode is a must-listen for arts leaders looking to move beyond intention and into lasting, structural change.
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Host: Anna Robb
Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil
Music: Jeremy Willi
Design: Em Holt
Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo
Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
🎧 Join us on the StageLync Podcast for inspiring stories from the world of performing arts! Tune in to hear from the creative minds who bring magic to life, both onstage and behind the scenes. 🎙️ 👉 Listen now!
