Yale Ventures is pleased to announce Liz Shapiro, Director of the Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism for the State of Connecticut, as the keynote speaker for the Arts Track at this year’s Yale Innovation Summit, taking place May 28–29, 2025, on Yale University’s campus.

A passionate advocate for the arts and a leader in cultural policy and creative economy development, Shapiro has positioned Connecticut as a national model for how the arts can drive innovation, economic growth, and community resilience. Under her leadership, the state has launched new initiatives to invest in arts-based entrepreneurship, support working artists, and integrate the arts more deeply into public life and civic infrastructure.

In her keynote, “Connecticut as the Silicon Valley for the Arts,” Shapiro will explore the role of public-private partnerships, policy innovation, and cultural entrepreneurship in building thriving arts ecosystems. Drawing on her experience leading statewide strategy, she will highlight how investment in the creative sector fuels not only economic development but also cross-sector innovation—from tech and education to health and sustainability.

“We’re living in a moment where creativity and cultural resilience are more important than ever,” Shapiro said. “Connecticut is embracing the idea that the arts are not an add-on—they are an essential engine of innovation, identity, and impact. I’m thrilled to join the Yale Innovation Summit to share how we can design systems that support artists as entrepreneurs and leaders.”

Frances Pollock, PhD, founder of Midnight Oil Collective is co-leading the programming for the Arts Track with Allison Chu, they noted: 

“Liz brings a powerful, systems-level view of the arts as an innovation economy. Her leadership and vision are shaping the future of arts policy, and we’re honored to feature her perspective as our keynote speaker this year.”

The Arts Track at the 2025 Yale Innovation Summit will also feature a live pitch competition for creative ventures, panels on cultural entrepreneurship and tech transfer for the arts, a showcase of early-stage theater works, and a special performance of Copenhagen for Summit attendees, staged at the Yale Schwarzman Center.

About the Yale Innovation Summit

The Yale Innovation Summit, taking place on May 28–29, 2025, is the Northeast’s premier event for innovation and entrepreneurship. Held on Yale University’s campus, the Summit brings together visionaries, investors, founders, and industry leaders for two days of discovery, connection, and opportunity. Featuring six programming tracks—arts, biotech, civic, climate, health, and technology—the event showcases panels, keynotes, and pitch competitions highlighting cutting-edge ideas across industries.

For more information and to register, visit https://ventures.yale.edu/summit.