We're just a week away from our 2026 (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit and we couldn't be more excited to welcome our featured speakers (Rob Bridgett, Mary Walsh and Emad Rizkalla) and artists and performers, and all of you to share in a half-day of inspiring conversations and fresh perspectives.
When we gather on November 5, we hope you'll not only walk away with new insights, energy and ideas to bring back to your teams and communities, but will also feel inspired to tap into your own creativity. This year's artists, Hadiza Bello, Ashley and Julia Dicker, Julie Lewis, Nora de Mariaffi, and Sherry Ryan, are sure to help with that. From visual art to music and performance, each will bring something special to this year's event — but you'll have to join us to find out exactly what!
Musician/songwriter Sherry Ryan is one of the featured artists who will be appearing at this year’s (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit.
This year's featured artists are presented with support from the Marlowe Foundation and if you've been following this blog for the past while, you already know that the arts are near and dear to Marlowe's founders, Morgan and Duncan MacRae (click here to read our Spotlight on the Marlowe Foundation).
Supporting artistic development and creation, says Morgan MacRae, is a vital part of the Foundation's work.
"We believe artists play an essential role in shaping how we see ourselves, how we understand one another and how we imagine what’s possible for our communities. Artists bring new perspectives, challenge conventional ways of thinking and help us see familiar things differently," she says.
Morgan MacRae greets attendees at the launch of the Marlowe Foundation, December 2025. Photo: Dave Howells
While supporting local artists "helps ensure they have the opportunities, resources and platforms they need to develop their practice and share their work," this support, MacRae adds, also contributes to the cultural life of the province, helping it grow and thrive.
"A vibrant community is one where people have opportunities to create, participate, experience new things and engage with different perspectives. The arts contribute to that vibrancy by bringing people together, reflecting our shared experiences and helping us envision new possibilities for the future," she says.
"They play an important role in shaping our sense of place and contributing to the quality of life that makes a community somewhere people want to live, work and create. Investing in artists is an investment in the strength, character and vitality of our communities and our province.”
MacRae says artists have much to contribute to conversations about creativity, innovation and the future of our communities. That's why the the Marlowe Foundation is excited to support this year's participating artists as gold sponsor.
"Their approaches to experimentation, storytelling and problem-solving can open up new ways of thinking and create unexpected connections across disciplines. By creating opportunities for artists to participate in these conversations, we can help bring diverse perspectives into the room, foster new relationships and create space for ideas to grow in unexpected ways.”
However, MacRae adds, supporting the arts is about more than a single event or opportunity, but rather, contributing long-term to an environment where artists can develop their practice, takes risks, share their work and build connections.
"A thriving arts community requires opportunities for artists to create, experiment and reach new audiences," she says.
"Through our focus on artistic development and creation, Marlowe Foundation is committed to supporting the people and ideas that contribute to a strong and vibrant cultural sector in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Join us and be inspired! Click here to learn more about and purchase tickets to (Un)Common Threads 2026 on November 5 at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John's.