Christine Harris is an award-winning artist, designer, and educator who has spent her career helping people bring meaningful ideas to life. After 17 years teaching K–12 art, she now works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, design, mentorship, and community development. As a furniture designer, interior designer, muralist, and maker, Christine has experienced firsthand the challenges of sustaining creative work—from balancing family and full-time commitments to navigating workspace limitations, zoning challenges, and the economic realities of building a creative practice. She serves on the City of Santa Clarita Arts Commission and continues to explore how art can heal, inspire, and challenge the systems that limit human creativity. Her greatest passion is creating environments where people feel empowered to bring their God-given ideas into the world.
Sustaining the Artist’s Life: A Community Conversation
Session Description:What if the biggest challenges artists face aren’t individual failures, but systems shaping how creativity is valued? Artists are often told to market better, work harder, and navigate obstacles alone. This conversation takes a different approach: examining the larger ecosystem that influences whether creators can truly thrive. Artists, designers, makers, musicians, writers, educators, and leaders are invited to explore how economics, education, expectations, and institutions impact careers. Through guided discussion, participants will identify shared challenges, question outdated assumptions, and generate ideas for change. Together we’ll explore solutions involving collaboration, funding, partnerships, policy, and sustainable business practices. Rather than focusing on individual survival, we’ll imagine ways to build a stronger community that benefits everyone. This is not a lecture—it’s a conversation. To move from surviving to creating a sustainable culture for creativity, join us.