Stephanie Fortunato | Editor

Stephanie P. Fortunato joined the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) as Director of Special Projects in 2022 to support the activities, management, and development of the network and oversee the delivery of special research and membership projects. Stephanie has been active in GCDN since 2017, representing the City of Providence where she served as Director of Art, Culture & Tourism; more recently, as a co-host of GCDN’s podcast The Three Bells. Stephanie’s approach is informed by her experience within city government, working at the intersection of cultural planning and community development. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with local communities to co-create arts-based policies, programs, and partnerships designed to strengthen neighborhoods and transform public spaces. Her experience covers cultural planning, policymaking, and cross-sector/issue partnerships. Stephanie is on the advisory committee for the New England Foundation for the Arts. She received her M.A. in public humanities from Brown University and a B.A. from Providence College.