Building connection through shared stories and proven practice
Why Spark Exchange?
Long Island’s arts and culture sector is thriving in spite of chronic underinvestment. As highlighted in Sustaining Long Island’s Creative Spark, arts employment grew 28% from 2013 to 2023 — five times faster than total regional job growth — even as the region received only 3.5% of NYSCA and 3.1% of REDC funding.
The challenge isn’t a lack of activity or impact; it’s visibility and connection. The work happening across Long Island is powerful, but too often, it remains siloed within individual organizations or communities.
LI Spark Exchange exists to illuminate this energy, to connect the sparks already igniting across Long Island, and to share the stories that show how the arts build stronger, more vibrant communities.
By sharing these stories publicly, we can raise awareness of the depth and diversity of Long Island’s arts field, foster collaboration, and strengthen the collective voice advocating for its future.
What Is It?
A Fast, Visual Storytelling Series
LI Spark Exchange is a fast-paced storytelling series for arts, culture, and education organizations across Long Island. Each presentation features 20 slides at 20 seconds each, giving organizations just over six minutes to tell a focused, visual story about their work.
Presentations highlight programs, projects, or partnerships that demonstrate effective practice and impact — from arts education initiatives and community collaborations to capital projects and public art.
The format is dynamic and engaging, and every presentation becomes part of a growing record of best practices that showcase the innovation and resilience of Long Island’s arts ecosystem.
The goal is twofold: to raise visibility for outstanding work happening across the region and to share insights, strategies, and lessons learned that can inform and inspire others in the field.
Presentations are not performances or pitches. They are snapshots of real work in action. Behind every project is a story worth sharing: how it started, how it evolved, what was learned along the way, and what impact it is having now.
Call for Presenters:
Share Your Spark
Across Long Island, arts, culture, and education organizations are developing programs and partnerships that strengthen communities and advance the field.
The LI Spark Exchange provides a platform to share those successes in a concise, visual format. Presenters will have the opportunity to showcase their work, raise visibility, and connect with peers across sectors while contributing to a more connected and informed arts community.
Presentations may highlight:
- Successful programs or initiatives that demonstrate impact
- Community collaborations or cross-sector partnerships
- Facility, capital, or renovation projects that expanded access
- Creative problem solving or organizational innovation
Presenters will offer short, visual case studies that share both accomplishments and lessons learned. This is a chance to bring forward the practical insights and behind-the-scenes work that often go unseen.
What We're Looking For:
We’re looking for organizations that can share a focused, engaging story about a program, project, or partnership that others in the field can learn from or be inspired by. Presentations should demonstrate substance, insight, and relevance to Long Island’s arts and culture ecosystem.
Presenters do not need a finished slide deck at the time of submission — selection will be based on the strength and clarity of the story proposal, not production value.
How It Works:
- Submit a short proposal describing your project, goals, and takeaways.
- Review Process: LIAA will evaluate all submissions and curate quarterly sessions based on the following criteria:
- Clarity: The story communicates a clear purpose, challenge, and outcome.
- Relevance: The work reflects issues, opportunities, or approaches significant to Long Island’s arts field.
- Insight: The presentation highlights practical takeaways or lessons learned that may inform others’ work.
- Impact: The project or program demonstrates measurable or meaningful benefit to its community or audience.
- Representation: The lineup will reflect diversity in geography, discipline, and organizational scale across Long Island.
- Curation:Five presenters will be selected per quarterly session.
- Preparation:Selected presenters receive guidance and a branded 20×20 slide template.
- Presentation:Each presenter shares their story during a live virtual Spark Exchange Session.
All presentations will be recorded and featured in the Spark Exchange Library on LIAA’s website, which will serve as a permanent archive of creative ideas and practice across the region.