Reflections from The Three Bells: S6#8
Title
Widening the circle of participation…
Contributor
Stephanie Fortunato
In this latest Reflections, Stephanie Fortunato asks what arts and culture can learn from sport about participation, belonging, and civic life – and how to widen the circle of participation.
Date of Recording
20 July 2026
Date of Publication
13 August 2026
[00:00:00]
THEME MUSIC
[00:00:05]
Stephanie Fortunato: Hello and welcome to The Three Bells. I'm Stephanie Fortunato, special projects director for GCDN, and this podcast is one of a series brought to you by AEA Consulting for the Global Cultural Districts Network, in which we explore the busy, sometimes congested intersections of culture and urban life.
A few minutes ago, I heard the roar of a crowd from the watch party happening just up the street at our local soccer stadium. And I knew the 2026 World Cup Games had officially come to a close. While this bonus episode won't be released for a few weeks, I'm taking a slightly different entry point into a discussion of cultural vitality and civic pride than usual: sporty culture.
Today, I'm reflecting on how communities form around sports and how fans of all stripes, fierce and fair-weather, transform ordinary spaces into sites of collective experience, setting the scene for increased civic engagement.
…
About our Contributor
Stephanie Fortunato is Director of Special Projects of the Global Cultural Districts Network. Her expertise sits at the intersection of cultural planning and urban development, collaborating with local communities on creating policies and partnerships to strengthen neighbourhoods and transform public spaces. +
