“While every trust is shaped by the context and needs of their locality, many parallels emerged across the discussions”
At the end of last month, our Head of Operations had the opportunity to represent Creative Land Trust at the first-ever Creative Land Trust Summit, held in San Francisco. This inspiring international event brought together 65 delegates from over 20 towns and cities across the globe to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and shape the future of creative spaces.
Supported by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, whose work focuses on the Bay Area, in partnership with the World Cities Culture Forum, the summit spanned over four days. It was realised and delivered by Left Bank Co and structured in a way that encouraged attendees to actively shape the content and outcomes.
The summit opened with a launch event and networking session. On the second day, we were proud to present the Creative Land Trust model in the ‘Up and Running’ category, alongside 15 other organisations ranging from ‘Emerging’ to ‘Early Adopters’. The third day involved 15 deep dive sessions where delegates explored key areas including partnerships in real estate, government collaboration, and fundraising strategy development. On the final day, we reflected on learnings and began stitching together global ideas into practical actions and next steps.
While every trust is shaped by the context and needs of their locality, many parallels emerged across the discussions. One recurring theme was the importance of recognising that there is no single Creative Land Trust model. Each initiative must adapt responsively to its own environment, yet similarities in challenges and approaches create a shared sense of purpose and potential collaboration.
There was much conversation around the need to sustain a strong network without overburdening participants in a sector already stretched thin. The importance of maintaining momentum and avoiding stagnation was also raised, keeping spaces, and the organisations behind them vibrant requires continual reflection and adaptation.
The issue of funding was a major focus. There is, simply put, not enough money for the scale of the system issue. However, unity and collaboration offer a way forward. By working together and aligning goals, organisations can better attract and coordinate funding opportunities. Philanthropy remains a crucial part of the mix. While income from affordable rents helps, it needs to be considered within a blended model to help cover the full financial need.
There was also discussion around the evolving nature of donor behaviour. The tech sector and Gen Z, for instance, do not engage with philanthropy in the same way as previous generations, raising the question: have they been asked the right questions? Looking ahead, the group explored ideas such as pooled trusts, endowments, and 0% capital loans to help address long-term funding needs.
The summit reinforced that while our paths may differ, Creative Land Trusts are united by a shared mission to secure, sustain, and evolve the spaces that nurture artistic and cultural life. We return from San Francisco energised, connected, and full of ideas to help shape the future of Creative Land Trust and the wider movement.