We know that artists and creatives can play a huge role in inspiring people to speak up for dignity, rights, and opportunity for all.

 

That’s why Creative Counsel showcases the work of talented creatives as they promote social justice values. We do this through events that help raise awareness on a range of social justice issues, and through multimedia programs, exhibitions, screenings, and campaigns that feature the creative work of arts & entertainment industry professionals that can inspire audiences to action.

We showcase the work of Grammy, Emmy, and Obie award winners and dedicated activists in standing-ovation events such as our 2007 tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Harlem.

We gather large groups of creatives and mediamakers to produce multimedia, such as a nationally aired CD project, We Will Keep This Story Alive, featuring a range of musicians, from Luaka Bop's Susana Baca, Holly Near, Cornel West, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and others in support of national radio coverage of Katrina's most marginalized voices.

Each of our projects is a step toward building support for the kind of society we really want to be – one that values justice, equality, respect, where we help each other, and our world, to flourish. Often, we partner with some of the nation’s most innovative and creative non-profit groups to ensure that our work helps those who are fighting the good fight everyday for communities across America.

This is just the beginning – We will continue to partner with the arts and entertainment industry, visual artists, musicians, and advertising, literary, and other creative professionals and institutions to expand audiences for causes that matter.

We'll bring creative professionals together on multi-partner collaborative projects, and for the sheer enjoyment of just plain meeting one another.

Because you never know what great things can happen when creative minds come together.

 

The Creative Counsel team is advised by leaders in the visual and performing arts, music, technology, and media industries. (For a list of our advisors visit us at www.CreativeCounsel.org)

Phoebe Eng, Director

has built strategic partnerships at the intersection of media, communications, and advocacy for over 15 years with partners such as Working Mother Media, Cox Communications, a range of Fortune 100 companies such as Procter & Gamble, IBM, and JP Morgan Chase, Dell Computers and Hewlett Packard, foundations and public agencies. Eng is a Co-Founder Emeritus of the national think tank, The Opportunity Agenda, where Creative Counsel was incubated.

She sits on the Advisory Board of Working Mother Media’s Best Companies for Women of Color initiative, which produces an annual best practices list, and is the Vice Chair of the Ms. Foundation for Women, where she has helped conceptualize a fund aimed at elevating the voices of women and minorities in public policy. Eng was also the Director of The Social Change Communications Project, a research initiative exploring the role of media and communications in social justice advocacy. Eng received the New York City Mayor’s Innovator Award, the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Medal, and a Distinguished Service Award from NYU School of Law. Eng started her career as a mergers and acquisitions attorney in New York, Paris, and Hong Kong.

Erica Marks, Development Counsel

has worked with arts organizations for nearly twenty-five years. She is Director of Development Annual Fund for New York City Opera, and prior to that served as Associate Director of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She was Director of Development for seven years for the Columbia University School of the Arts. She has worked with The Actors Fund—for All Entertainment Professionals, Washington D.C.’s Arena Stage, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Erica also worked with the international student exchange organization, American Field Service (AFS-USA). Marks holds a B.A. degree Magna Cum Laude from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa and an M.A. degree in Arts Administration from New York University. She studied French at the Sorbonne in Paris, Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes in New York, and is conversant in Norwegian. She serves as Vice President of the Board of Chez Bushwick Inc. and Treasurer of the Practical Cats Theatre Company. She is married to sculptor Dan George.

Yael Oestreich Denbo, Producer

Yael Denbo joined Creative Counsel as a Producer of Special Projects in 2006. Denbo is also the founder of Denbo Communications, a creative consultancy firm focusing on public relations, event planning and strategic marketing for entertainment, political and non-profit related businesses and initiatives. Denbo’s clients include Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign, the Glasshouse New York and the Charity Network of New York.

Before forming Denbo Communications, Denbo served as the Manager of Special Projects at The Creative Coalition, a leading national, nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment industry in New York, NY. At The Creative Coalition, Denbo managed media and public relations, and led a team of professionals involved in the planning and execution of special events, such as the 2006 White House Correspondent’s Dinner in Washington D.C., and several events for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

Previously, Denbo worked in the film industry for seven years as a development executive for top tier companies, including Madonna’s Maverick Films and MGM Pictures. Denbo has a BA degree from Brown University, and spent her junior year abroad studying at the London School of Economics.

Ardi Kuhn, Production Coordinator

has a background in many aspects of the music industry. He was the label manager of independent jazz label, LSR, and has worked at The World Music Institute, Palm Pictures, and Mute Records. Currently, he is on the production team of the critically acclaimed Wordless Music Series. As a performer, he has toured with MIT-based avant-garde Balinese ensemble, Gamelan Galak Tika, at venues including Carnegie Hall and The Bali Arts Festival.

Kuhn spent many years abroad, living in Fiji and other countries with his diplomatic family and recently spent a year abroad working and teaching in various countries. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music with dual BS degrees in Music Synthesis and Music Business/Management in 2005.