The people listed here represent the early formation of Res Creativa: a developing civic network of artists, makers, performers, writers, designers, musicians, multidisciplinary creators, arts workers, and supporters of creative culture.

They come from different disciplines, generations, locations, and artistic traditions. What connects them is a shared belief that creativity is not peripheral to democratic life. It is essential to it.

This founding list will continue to grow as more creative people step forward to help build a stronger civic role for imagination, empathy, cultural courage, and imagination in public life.

Res Creativa is not built around celebrity, status, or institutional affiliation. It is being built person by person. Across disciplines. Across communities. Across borders.

Thomas Eakins, Marey Wheel Photographs of Unidentified Model (1884), Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966, CC0

Kevin Acers—Writer, Bangkok, Thailand

Steve Adams—Writer, Memphis, Tennessee

Deborah Bailay—Dance/Movement, New York City, New York

Kathy Biehl—Writer, Oak Ridge, New Jersey

Laura Bradley—Writer, Vershire, Vermont

John Bruening—Writing, South Euclid, Ohio

Leilani Carinio-Kirby—Writer/Poet/Storyteller, Benicia, California

Varghese Chacko—Music, Brooklyn, New York | Organization Website

Julian Conway—Musician, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Alison Cook-Beatty—Artistic Director/Choreographer/Dancer, New York City, New York

Susan Cortilet-Jones—Arts Enthusiast/Supporter, Durham, North Carolina

Angel Davis—Theater/Performance Monrovia, California

Susie deVille—Writing, Highlands, North Carolina | Substack

Heather Dickie—Design, Dallas, Texas

Annette Dion—Musician, Gloucester, Massachusetts

David Dobson—Theater/Performance, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Bruce Endres—Musician, Douglas, Arizona

David Evans—Painting/Music, Santa Maria, California

Todd Faulkner—Writer/Musician, New York City, New York

David Fisher—Theater Artist, Dallas, Texas

Hector Garcia — Actor/Arts Administrator, Dallas, Texas

Curtis Lynn Gates—Multidisciplinary/Hybrid Artist, Wichita, Kansas

Scott Gordon—Theater & Performance Artist, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Elaine Gormley—Musician, Ocala, Florida

Jackie Gottlieb—Photographer/Designer/Visual Artist, Raleigh, North Carolina

Jason Hagler—Multidisciplinary Artist, San Francisco, California

Jeanne Harris—Craft/Material Arts, Dallas, Texas

Clayton Henry—Arts Supporter/Enthusiast, Dallas, Texas

Jeff Herrington—Writer, Dallas, Texas | Book Website (as author Jeffrey Eaton)

Stephen Hooper—Actor/Director/Producer/Playwright, North Port, Florida

Justin Kantor—Music, New York City, New York

Kathleen Kelly—Theater & Performance Artist, Goshen, Connecticut

Jeannette Keton—Writer, McKinney, Texas

David Kirwin—Multidisciplinary Artist, Sherwood, Oregon

Cinzi Lavin—Musical Dramatist/Playwright, Greater New York City Metropolitan Area | Website

Richard Lemin—Theater/Performance, Edmond, Oklahoma

Habib Loriot-Bettaieb—Nonprofit Arts & Culture Fundraiser, Dallas, Texas

Margaret Malloy—Arts Enthusiast/Culinary Artist/Poet, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Randy Marks—Visual artist and arts futurist, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Chas Martin — Visual Artist, Portland, Oregon

Paola Martinatto Maritano—Philosophy, Torino, Italy

David McClendon—Theater & Performance Artist, Temecula, California

Carmen Menza—Multidisciplinary Artist, Dallas, Texas

Julie Mierau—Writer, Omaha, Nebraska

Heather Nicholson—Writing, Grand Junction, Colorado

Randy Osteen—Photography, Dallas, Texas

Mark Owen—Musician, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Jimmy Paton—Multidisciplinary Artist, Durham, North Carolina

Terry Powell—Craft/Material Arts, Fort Worth, Texas

Andy Pring—Writing/Facilitator, London, England, UK

Mary Catherine Reynolds—Musician, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Latricia Shepherd—Writer, Washington, DC | Medium

Harold Spiegel—Multidisciplinary/Hybrid Artist, Church Stretton, Shropshire, UK

Angi Stepp—Dance/Yoga, Edmond, Oklahoma

Janice Stepp—Costumer/Assistant to Actor/Theatre Props, Edmond, Oklahoma

Tracy Sterling Bristol—Writer/Designer, Colleyville, Texas

Jon Traylor—Writer, Woodway, Texas

Randall White—Writer/Theater Artist, Dallas, Texas | Substack

Ronald White—Theater Artist, Lake Jackson, Texas

Kay Whitney—Craft/Material Arts, Venice, California

Kenneth Wincorn—Musician/Composer, Dallas, Texas

Carl Wittenberg—Arts Supporter, Ashland City, Tennessee

Katherine Yngve—Instructional Design/Experiential Learning/Collaboration, Lafayette, Indiana