Working on something meaningful is a common desire – but how? We started asking folks to share the story of how they ended up working on a project they felt was meaningful because we wanted inspiration but also because we wondered if hearing from people from across a range of industries would help us identify patterns making it more likely for anyone to be able to find and work on projects that they would find meaningful.

Paulie Z

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been The David Z Foundation. DZF is a non-profit organization that I founded that raises money for music programming for kids around the world in memory of my late brother David Z. David and I were not only brothers, but bandmates and best friends. He and I were in an original band called ZO2 for 10 years and tours with bands like KISS, Poison, Alice Cooper, Scorpions, etc. Read more>>

Manuel Muñoz Gomez Gallardo

Working in the Cananea mine area has been more than just creating art. It’s been about giving the land a voice and an identity. As I worked from scrap metal to make my pieces, I felt a connection to the history of this place. My goal was to change how people saw things, and turning industrial remains into symbols of strength and creativity. Read more>>

Kirsten Agresta-Copely

In 2021, my husband Marc and I returned to New York City after spending seven years in Nashville, where my elderly Mother also lived. It was a painstaking decision, knowing we were leaving her behind in rapidly declining health. Mom and I would reminisce during her last months about our long walks on the beach, picking up shells, and chatting about life and love by the water. Read more>>

Adam Zuñiga-Blain

As a hair color specialist I have the opportunity to make meaningful impacts in other’s lives. What sticks out as the most meaningful project I have worked on would have to be the one that was the most challenging, the one that was the most uncomfortable, and the one that made me the most proud of myself. Read more>>

GR-O-TH and Kali Crews N/A

GR-O-TH: What has been so meaningful to me with this project “Doin Somethin Different” is how my respect grew for Kali and myself as artist. I physically saw him push himself to new heights, setting new standards for himself into getting the job done and making sure it sound perfect. As for me this project made me more creative with my writing and how I deliver my words on the beats. Read more>>

Andrea Merican

I recently completed my largest body of artwork with over 40 paintings depicting a very significant time in my life where a lot of change was occurring. Through the medium of abstract watercolor and oil paintings I was able to process my feelings, emotions and thoughts over the course of a 2 year period of time, which resulted in an incredible solo show that opens on September 15th in Scottsdale AZ. The show is called Metamorphosis. Read more>>

BA303

Throughout my career as a recording artist thus far there have been a few tracks and projects that have been incredibly meaningful for me personally. The first song I ever released had one of the deepest meanings out of all of them, and it was called “Place to Hide”. I had lost a best friend of mine to suicide and the one year anniversary was approaching. Mixed martial arts was my passion and the way I relieved stress. Read more>>

Tom Virgin

For readers who do not know what they want to do when they grow up: I never considered being a teacher. Read more>>

Diana Madaras

I donate an original painting to several charities a year that are close to my heart. TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tucson) is one of them. Riding horses helps disabled children in many ways, including improving their ability to walk for several days after riding. I have owned horses for many years, and my horse Bisbee was a TROT volunteer until he died at age 30. Read more>>

Ari Gold

To heal my family lineage, I agreed to perform a perilous spiritual challenge from visionary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky: to re-enact my mother’s death in a helicopter crash as a movie. I am in the process of completing “Helicopter,” this feature-length hybrid-documentary, incorporating animation and re-enactments, and expanding my student-Oscar-winning short film of the same name. Read more>>

Eric Kellum

Everything I do is inspired by the meaning of family, starting from the void of family. My biological mom abandoned me when I was 5 at a Greyhound bus station. I’ve never met my biological father. And you know, if you’re black and you deal with any time of trauma as a kid, it’s taboo to get counseling…so, many of the consequences of this trauma lingered in my life and ultimately affected me as a married man. Read more>>

Jaćhai DeJesus

Thus far I’ve been diligently wrapping up my first book, ‘1998’, it’s an anthology of journal entries and stream-of-consciousness writings that I’ve written from 2017 up until January of this year, where the book begins. Based on my observations and experiences of being black, queer, Florida-born-and-raised, and always having a natural sense of self, I took my time developing this book, because it’s a benchmark for me within my personal creative journey and my inner healing homework. Read more>>

Hailey Ciesluk and Ryker Huizinga N/A

Hailey: Since I started contributing to Cultivate’s digital media & marketing, there has been a clear intention on having an inclusive, welcoming, and accessible media presence. To me, that is an incredible goal to have as a media coordinator, especially in something as valuable as the arts. Read more>>

Edgar Miguel Abreu

Throughout my life, I’ve been driven by a pursuit of excellence in academics and professional endeavors, all while nurturing relationships and enjoying a vibrant social life. My path included earning an undergraduate degree, followed by several years of professional experience, culminating in the completion of a graduate degree. This journey led me to secure a coveted spot in one of the nation’s premier operatic internships. Read more>>

Yu-Chen Chen

This project undoubtedly offers a rare opportunity for printmaking enthusiasts. Being selected to participate in this residency program through the application process provides the chance to engage in creative exchanges with local artists at Zygote Press, a printmaking studio situated in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This project undoubtedly offers a rare opportunity for printmaking enthusiasts. Read more>>

Hannah Kaplan

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was cofounding a theater company, The Brooklyn Actor’s Troupe, with a former classmate and friend of mine. We reached a point where we were feeling out of touch creatively and professionally having graduated college with a BFA, but the “now what” reality of having to find the acting work ourselves. We had had plenty of education, but no real guidance on how to stay creatively fulfilled and alive once we left our theater cult of academia. Read more>>

Olga Saretsky

Creating New Sculpture collection dedicated to Chakra philosophy . Read more>>

Larry Lemuel

My most meaningful project will be the current album im working on. I’m brainstorming a few names for the project but i know that this will be my best one yet. Through all of the trials and tribulations I finally have been able to put together a batch of songs that I can say im proud of. Speaking from a state of healing, evolution, and love listeners will be able to feel the motivation and inspiration to be the best version of themselves. Read more>>

Courtney Nicole Googe

In the fall of 2022 I completed a year-long project while as the Artist-in-Residence at Tarrant County College. It was called Have a Safe Space (or How to be Vulnerable and Unapologetic), and it was exhibited at the Carillon Gallery in September of 2022 and the ArtTooth Art Container in January of 2023. I just recently spoke about the project at Mudhouse Residency this past summer, and was able to begin some great conversation. Read more>>

Mara Duryea

The most meaningful to me is my Monsters and Demons Series. Read more>>

Pedro Lavin

I recently finished an important project which I had been working on for years. It’s a short film called ‘La Pequeña Muerte’ or ‘The Little Death’ in English. The film tell the story of two lovers who share an afternoon of passion, as an ancient deity from their dreams performs an orgiastic dance that mirrors their ecstasy. Read more>>

Anthony Misiano

In this industry you usually work as an artist-for-hire. It doesn’t really matter what the art form is, whether you’re an actor, director, an editor, photographer or anything else. You put yourself out there, you seek out projects that need X position filled, and you apply to that job. You’re a rendering machine. Someone needs a piece of work created a certain way, and you deliver that work. Read more>>

Risa Hartsough

I’m a freelance and contract organic social media manager, currently working with a company called Rescue Spot that utilizes technology that makes the adoption, foster, and volunteer process easier, but just as thorough. They’re helping rescues and shelters across the country get dogs and cats loving forever homes and off of euthanasia lists. Read more>>

Ben Thompson

Between 2019 and March 2020 (can you guess why it ended?) I produced a sketch show called the 60-Second Talk Show. It was a parody of Late Night/Morning Talk Shows/News Shows condensed into a minute and released on social media. I came up with the idea right as I moved to LA and started doing stand-up, and I was watching a lot of interviews with my favorite comedians to try and learn about their trajectory and process. Read more>>

Groovyie

My latest album, ‘Brown Skin Baby’, has by far been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on. The title has been an idea I’ve tossed around with friends for years now, and even I didn’t really understand how much depth such a title had. I knew I wanted to make an album that explored so many complexities of my identities; Brown, Queer, Masculine but sensitive, fearless but hurt. And I also wanted to make a project that sonically was more easy to digest. Read more>>

Rielly Marquez

My most recent artistic focus is a combination of my studies while in undergrad. I unexpectedly became immersed in gender and sexuality studies half way into my college career. By the time I reached graduation I developed my personal artistic practice that highlights queerness and more specifically – the homoerotic. Read more>>

Melissa Kirkendall

In recent years I have been lucky enough to be able to pick projects, rather than just take what work is offered to me. One of the things I love about making film is it causes you to learn about all sorts of things you might not normally be interested in so to me they’ve all been meaningful to me in some way. Read more>>

Abie EKENEZAR

I just had the opportunity to finish a documentary that I believe was absolutely inspiring and becamse even more so as we finalized the creative road in which it took. As someone who was in the military, I never believed in politics. I honestly thought it was a popularity contest where people who didn’t really care about the issues and what was plaguing our current society. Read more>>

Shemeeka Gentry

I live by my motto of “you are only as great as your last painting”. I strive to do better on each painting as well as have a connection with all my paintings. I don’t paint to generate income; I paint to make a statement and to achieve happiness/satisfaction from my clients. Read more>>

Natalie Henriquez

Hi! Thanks for having me and countless other creatives! As I was sitting on this question, my shallow quick response would be the very first event on behalf of The Prolific Cocoon was the most meaningful project ever! Though, the more time I spent in my memory bank I realized the greatest most dearest project to me was taking place in the midst of COVID. Read more>>

Tammy Huynh

Recently, I completed a residency granted by Wildflower Composers and Asian Arts Initiative. For this residency, I was able to write a new piece and give several workshops on composition at Asian Arts Initiative. This whole experience allowed me to really reflect and connect with my Asian identity and community— an opportunity that I haven’t had as a creative until recently. Read more>>

Natacha Sochat

Meaningful Projects Read more>>

Greyson Welch

In 2022, Cedar was tasked with creating a short film centered around the experience of a sex trafficking survivor. Given such dark & heavy content, we had to find a way into the story that wouldn’t turn viewers away, but did justice to the depth of the story. We created Sula’s Story (https://www.cedarcreative.net/work/safe) and received the best feedback possible: Sula herself frequently uses the film in her talks and is proud of it. Read more>>

Meg Lubey

In 2021 I participated in a program called Creativity Works and received a grant to organize a community art project. Something that’s really important to me is access to inclusive and comprehensive sex education so I decided to partner with The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, who was at that time setting up such a program. For my project I created a collaborative zine issue that highlighted work by local queer artists and writers. Read more>>

Jehad Choate

I have worked on the feature ‘Half Dead Fred’ (White Ninja Productions) which won a lot of awards in the festival circuit, and is now available to watch on Amazon Prime (US. and UK.), Tubi, and Apple TV+. Read more>>

Seneca Basoalto

I’d have to say one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on was my poetry book Screaming Bluebirds. It was all about coming to terms with my childhood, abuse, and family dynamics — which is often a topic I avoid altogether. I don’t generally feel inspired by writing about my childhood or my family. The truth is, the subject just doesn’t interest me. Read more>>

Carmen Amato

I’m a mystery author, but when the pandemic hit, corruption and cartels were tough subjects to write about so I put the award-winning Detective Emilia Cruz series (CLIFF DIVER, NARCO NOIR, etc) on hold. Read more>>

Maya Golden Bethany

I thought I was the only one. Of course statistically, nothing could have been further from the truth. Still, as a child I was convinced that I was the only girl in the world experiencing sexual abuse. That is part of the lie of sexual abuse. More so than the threats from our abusers, the societal stigmas that silence the survivors of sexual violence lead us to believe we are alone. Read more>>

Cassandra Harner

The first and only grant I’ve ever received (so far) was for a project called “Peek-a-Booth.” I received the Urgent Art Fund from SPACES in Cleveland for $4000. I didn’t apply for that grant originally but SPACES had a feedback session and encouraged me to apply to their other grant, due the very next day. Read more>>

Jeffri Martin

I have several that are very deep and meaningful. A recent project I worked is a book I publish, the name of it is, “The Love That You Deserve and it speaks to couples who have suffered or are suffering in unhealthy and toxic relationships to the point where we lose ourselves and drift away from God! Read more>>

Kristin Buchtel

Writing and Illustrating the Noteworthy Parenting book has been my most meaningful project. Read more>>

Ursula Acae

I’m actually still working on my most meaningful project, I feel. My work in progress, Twine and Gold, is still in its drafting stages, but it’s been a two year project that I really want to see through. I feel like everyone sees Ursula the pagan or Ursula the business owner (I mean, look at my main account. It has 30k+ followers while the writing account is currently on 100!). Read more>>

Joyce & Debra Glenn

One of the most meaningful projects we’ve worked on was publishing our book, “Keeping Your Crown.” We were raised to be strong, educated, ambitious and conscious black women. Advancing the Black community by discussing black issues and providing solutions is a huge passion of ours. Read more>>

Dannie Snyder

I think many artists would define “meaningful work” as a project that ultimately reinforces their personal values, so the creative process probably stems from a need for self-expression. My work is meaningful when it’s impacting society, when it’s either expressing and reinforcing a community’s value or, better, when it’s opening the minds of many to reconsider their values and inspiring collective transformation. Read more>>

Jennifer Coburn

The writing of my upcoming historical novel, CRADLES OF THE REICH, which is about three very different German women who meet at a Nazi Lebensborn breeding home. Read more>>

Mikael Trench

That would probably have to be my stop motion short film, To Love a Ladybug. It was my capstone senior short film made for my time at the Savannah College of Art and Design where I graduated from with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Animation. The film tells the story of a dying cockroach in the alleyways of Paris who reminisces of the time he fell in love with a ladybug and reflects on what that relationship means to him in his final moments. Read more>>

B Alan Bourgeois

Creating and managing the Texas Authors Institute of History, a museum exclusively for Texas authors; past, present, and future. This means is something I can leave the world that I hope, in time, will change the perspective of who Texans are. Read more>>