Join us for the third installment of "Future Local," an emerging initiative which explores the impact that creativity and entrepreneurship can have on social issues which are often overshadowed by the mainstream media culture.

The topic that brings us together this month, "Sustaining Research & Development for Civic Society," aims to shed light on opportunities for artists and cultural entrepreneurs to organize, ideate, and pool resources for more effective grassroots innovation. Here are some of the questions we will dive into:

--What are some examples of artists collectives that have had some type of measurable social impact or created a sustainable business model? Historically, how was private vs. public support led to various outcomes for such communities?

--What data do we need to gather to identify opportunities for experimentation and creative risk-taking? What spatial, cultural, and temporal needs should artists look for when investing in a community?

--What are examples of policies that support artistic careers? How do they compare to New York City and the tri-state area?

--How can artists create more sustainability and impact around independent collaborations? How can we create metrics and accountability, while nurturing creativity? What role can creatives play in shaping the Sharing Economy?

RSVP here if you would like to participate in this conversation! We'll provide light refreshments.