Design Week RI – Designing Space to Gather: The Irreplaceable Role of Live Arts in the Age of AI

September 17, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EDT)

Description

As technology makes it easier than ever to consume music, art, and film from a living room or a laptop, and conversations about AI continue to raise new debates about the act of creation itself, one question emerges: what do we lose when we stop showing up for each other? This panel brings together artists, educators, and community leaders to make the case for the live, in-person arts experience as a necessary counterweight to the atomization of creative life. The conversation centers on community-building, shared witnessing, and what happens in a room full of people that no algorithm can replicate.

Panelists include Carly Callahan (moderator),  Executive Director of the UNITED; Chris Donovan, Director of PechaKucha PVD; Kyna Leski, Professor of Architecture at RISD and a Founding Principal of 3six0 Architecture; Wensley Sarkar Bynoe, Director of Community Engagement and Teaching Artist at Trinity Rep; and Josh Short, Artistic Director of The Wilbury Theatre Group.

ABOUT DESIGN WEEK RI

Since 2014, DESIGNxRI has proudly organized DESIGN WEEK RI, an annual celebration of design and creativity across Rhode Island. This statewide event connects a diverse community of innovative designers, makers, and thinkers who are shaping the way we live, work, and create. Each fall, DESIGN WEEK RI brings together thousands of participants for a week of shared experiences, workshops, open studios, panels, and networking events. The goal: to spark meaningful conversations, foster collaboration, and elevate the role of design in building a more vibrant and resilient Rhode Island. Learn more at their website.