Cathy Byrd, the Founder and Artistic Director of Fresh Art International, is an influential advocate for cultural literacy and an internationally recognized curator, educator, and writer. Her hybrid platform features a podcast, live stream radio shows, and a free digital archive. Since 2011, the audio program has transported listeners to sites of creativity around the world, infusing conversations about art, design, and film with sonic experiences. Connecting listeners with voices from the field, Byrd heightens public awareness and understanding of contemporary art and culture as she investigates vital issues and ideas of our times.

For the Art Prospect & Trash 5 Festival, Cathy Byrd curates a special project: Finding New Harmony—Art Prospect 2023. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, her podcasting, videography, and writing amplify the sensibilities of our moment. Byrd bears witness, records, and shares stories of the poetic ways that creative communities are countering today’s global dissonance.