It’s Not Out of Reach Public talk by Louise Martorano

Louise Martoranos’ talk, It’s Not Out of Reach, will take place at the DiverseWorks Gallery @ MATCH at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, December 9, and is co-hosted by Lawndale. 

Artist careers are often volatile and can be a rollercoaster when it comes to economic stability, financial security, and dependable infrastructure. This talk and discussion place these challenges at the center of our attention, offering strategies for artists to skillfully approach uncertainty across issues of space, ownership, financial stability, and scarce opportunities. Drawing on 17 years of experience in supporting artists’ careers and in caring for our arts and culture ecosystems, the goal of this talk is to reassure participants that the path to being an artist with a sustainable career is not out of reach.

DiverseWorks welcomes Louise Martorano, Managing Director of National Programs, Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) to Houston as part of their Diverse Discourse Lecture & Studio Visit Program. The Diverse Discourse Lecture and Studio Visit Program brings curators and artistic directors to Houston to share their knowledge and ideas through free public lectures and visits with local artists. Since Diverse Discourse began in 2013, 21 visiting curators have conducted more than 120 studio visits. 

More information about how to apply for a Studio Visit with Louise Martorano can be found on DiverseWorks Submittable site.

Louise Martorano has 20 years of nonprofit arts and culture experience with a focus on building infrastructures of support to stabilize artists careers. Prior to joining the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (“CAST”) as the Managing Director of National Programs and launching CAST Colorado, Louise served for 15 years as the Executive & Artistic Director of RedLine Contemporary Art Center, a non-profit contemporary art center and 2 year artist residency located in Denver. In this position, Louise developed the Artist-in-Residence program, developed, facilitated and supported the curation of over 300 exhibitions, launched both regranting and fiscal sponsorship programs to make philanthropic funds more accessible to artists and community organizations, and launched a Satellite Studio initiative to negotiate affordable studio, commercial and live/work spaces for artists and arts and culture organizations. From 2019 – 2025, the Satellite Initiative resulted in adding 79 affordable artists studios into the Denver Metro Area, 4 new live/work housing developments, and negotiated 8 new locations for arts & culture nonprofits that previously did not have their own space. In 2017, she was awarded a Livingston Fellowship for leadership from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Louise holds a M.H. from the University of Colorado at Denver with a focus in Contemporary Art History & Music. She is a Trustee for the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Board Chair for the Harmony Hammond Trust, Board Treasurer for the National Performance Network and the Denver Center for African Art.