Dear friend,
Every day, we ask ourselves, “What is this moment we are living?” Is there an equivalent moment in the history of the human species or the life of the planet when the future has been so unforeseeable? As we outsource the work of thinking to ‘Claude’ while watching glaciers fall into the sea and oceans rain down upon us, we must wonder where we are in the long march of human history and planetary evolution.
In these deeply uncertain times, we must also ask what the role of cultural organizations—such as Experimental Station—should be. Much like medieval monasteries that safeguarded ancient European culture, cultural organizations today are essential for protecting and preserving free expression, knowledge, and—in the era of artificial intelligence—the very act of thinking. Yet, cultural organizations today are also called upon to be creative problem solvers, community builders, and imaginative architects of the future.
Every day, through our programs and the initiatives we foster, Experimental Station works both to uphold our cultural values and to realize our vision of a future steeped in community and creative possibility. We hope that you are inspired by the stories shared in these pages—and that you will join us in meeting this moment by helping us build that better future together.
Sincerely,
Connie Spreen
Connie Spreen,
Co-Founder and Executive Director
