Event Date: Four-month programming period, including Paul Tazewell Live Podcast on March 9
Client: The Institute of Black Imagination
Location: Space 001, World Trade Center, New York City
Challenge: Develop, produce, and event manage a dynamic cultural programming plan for Space 001, creating live podcast events, educational sessions, and community partnerships that would activate the Institute of Black Imagination’s first physical space and deepen audience engagement.
Impact: Delivered a four-month programming framework that brought together live conversations, cultural storytelling, guest management systems, audience feedback tools, and community partnerships. Built systems that strengthened Space 001’s ability to engage its community and continue producing insight-driven public programming.
Overview
Commissioned by The Institute of Black Imagination to support the launch and activation of Space 001, its first physical storefront and cultural space at the World Trade Center in New York City. As Executive Producer, I led programming, event management, podcast systems, guest communications, audience engagement, and production workflows across a four-month programming plan.
The work included developing and producing live podcast events, educational sessions, and community partnerships that reflected IBI’s mission to preserve, cultivate, and expand the creative traditions of the Black diaspora. A key event within this programme was the Paul Tazewell live podcast, Seamless: Staying in Character, exploring costume, identity, fashion, and storytelling with the Academy Award-winning costume designer.
Key Deliverables
Curation & Programming: Developed and produced a four-month programming plan for Space 001, including live podcasts, educational sessions, cultural conversations, and community partnerships designed to deepen engagement with Black creativity, storytelling, and imagination.
Live Podcast Production: Event managed and produced live podcast recordings, including the Paul Tazewell event, shaping the event structure, audience experience, host flow, talking points, guest research, and production logistics.
Event Management & Logistics: Created clear event systems, production documents, guest communication tools, running orders, host notes, and logistics frameworks to ensure seamless execution across public-facing events.
Audience & Community Engagement: Designed feedback and communication systems to help IBI better understand its audience, strengthen relationships with attendees, and build a more responsive public programming model.
Podcast Systems & Editorial Support: Built practical systems for podcast production, live recording, guest preparation, and audience-facing storytelling, supporting IBI’s transition from ideas-led programming into repeatable, high-quality cultural production.
Impact/Outcome
Strategic Programming: Created a clear and cohesive four-month programming plan that helped Space 001 establish itself as a cultural hub for Black imagination, creativity, education, and public dialogue.
Operational Excellence: Built tools, processes, and event frameworks that allowed the IBI team to run polished, professional, and insight-driven events with strong guest management and audience experience.
Cultural Relevance: Produced programming that connected design, identity, storytelling, fashion, media, education, and Black creative traditions, creating space for cross-disciplinary conversations with cultural leaders and community audiences.
Community Engagement: Strengthened how Space 001 engages its audiences through thoughtful event design, live podcast formats, educational programming, and audience feedback systems.
Collaborative Success: Worked closely with Dario Calmese and the IBI team to translate the organisation’s creative vision into a practical public programming model, balancing cultural ambition with strong production delivery.
“Chrystal Genesis brought strategic vision and flawless execution to Space 001, developing and producing a dynamic four-month programming plan with live podcasts, educational sessions, and community partnerships. As Executive Producer, she built podcast systems, ran seamless events, and designed clear communication tools that made every experience impactful and insight-driven. Her thoughtful systems for guest management and audience feedback continue to shape how Space 001 engages its community.”
Result
Established a strong programming and production foundation for Space 001, supporting The Institute of Black Imagination’s first physical space through live podcast production, cultural programming, education-led events, and community engagement systems. The project strengthened IBI’s capacity to deliver high-quality public programming and created reusable tools for future events, guest experiences, podcast production, and audience development.
