Art as a Tool for Resiliency: Tangible ways arts organizations & artists can help people overcome challenging times
Session Description:
In a world that often feels increasingly unpredictable, it’s easy to see how isolation and hopelessness can become reflexive coping mechanisms. This Campfire Session will explore the essential role of resilience—not just as a personal skill, but as a collective practice.
Through the lens of community connection, inspiration, and joy, we will reflect on how those who present and facilitate art have a powerful opportunity to support the health and resilience of their communities. This discussion will consider how joy is not just a byproduct of healing—but an essential part of it. Together, we’ll look at how artistic spaces can become vital sources of connection, empowerment, and collective well-being.
Presenter: Rafaela Dreisin
Rafaela Dreisin is a seasoned non-profit administrator with over 15 years of experience in the performing arts sector, currently serving as the General Manager of the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career, Ms. Dreisin has demonstrated expertise in arts management, marketing, audience development, and community engagement, consistently delivering innovative solutions that drive organizational growth. Previously, Ms. Dreisin was the Associate Director of Marketing at Baltimore Center Stage, where she led the organization’s external marketing strategies and played a key role in enhancing its public presence. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Audience Development at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO), where she was instrumental in curating high-profile events such as the Off The Cuff after-parties, the BSO’s New Music Festival, and the popular Pulse series, helping to attract new audiences to the symphony. A graduate of the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, Rafaela has called Baltimore home for over a decade. In addition to her work with the BSO and BCS, she was the co-director of Classical Revolution Baltimore, a chamber music series that brought classical music to unconventional spaces like bars and cafes. One of the groups’ signature projects, Classical Music 4 People w/ Short Attention Spans, was a live broadcast series on indie rock radio station WTMD. Rafaela’s work has garnered recognition in publications such as the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine. Her passion for arts advocacy and innovation continues to shape the cultural landscape of Baltimore and beyond.
Date, Time, and Location
Tuesday, June 17th
Breakout Session 2: 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Room: CPA 105 BDF