WILDTOPIA by Karen Toftegaard

GROWING A GARDEN - content

An inspirational, tool-based workshop for navigating an artistic practice in a complex professional landscape. What happens when you look at your artistic practice through the metaphor of a garden - not as poetry, but as a clear, practical framework for decision-making?

This workshop offers artists and creatives a concentrated, high-impact toolset for gaining orientation in a complex and fast-changing professional landscape. By framing your practice as a garden, you learn to think in cycles rather than constant acceleration, helping you identify what to grow, sustain, redesign, or let go of.

Through short, hands-on exercises, participants map key elements of their current practice - projects, collaborations, energy, income streams, and values - to clarify priorities and pressure points. Purpose and values are activated as practical drivers: the “fertiliser” that informs artistic, professional, and collaborative choices.

The workshop delivers concrete, immediately applicable tools that support artistic development and sustainability across creative, financial, organisational, and psychological dimensions - designed to be efficient, focused, and action-oriented.

Facilitated by cultural entrepreneur and farmer’s daughter Karen Toftegaard.

For questions and conversations about what would match your context please do not hesitate to contact us. 

GROWING A GARDEN- formats and track record

FORMATS

This can be delievered as an inspirational talk including reflection questions. It can also be facilitated as a workshop that highly involves the participants. 

Output is inspiration and tools to think your organization as a garden - a more regenerative approach, where you sow and harvest and grow your practice - without exhaustion.

TARGET GROUP

Art leaders, Artists and Creatives

DATES:

15 May 2026 - Taiwan University of Technology (Taiwan)

16 May 2026 - Chiayi Danceplatform (Taiwan)

TRACK RECORD

2026: GROWING A GARDEN reflects a regenerative practice, that we explore and lean more and more into. Partly through the Research and Development project "Regenerative Frameworks in the Arts" - supported by Danish Arts Foundation, Arts Council Norway and Arts Council England.

WILDTOPIA by Karen Toftegaard ApS

“We’ve known Karen for many years in her capacity as a cultural enabler who has made a significant impact on the Nordic culture scene, with frequent path crossings at industry events around the globe. When sourcing keynote speakers for the World Fringe Congress 2024 in Stockholm, Karen became an obvious choice as an inspirational talker for the global gathering of nearly 100 festival directors and theatre producers.
Karen’s keynote "FIRE WALK WITH ME" was well-received and thought-provoking. It triggered many much-needed discussions, and our global industry peers noted her presentation as of great value. ”

Founding Directors, Stockholm Fringe Festival & Baltic Nordic Fringe Network

WILDTOPIA by Karen Toftegaard ApS

“Karen created a space where difficult discussions felt safe and natural from the start. While we often approach these topics intellectually, her facilitation allowed people to connect with what was truly at stake—on a deep, emotional, and down-to-earth level.”

Executive director, CINARS, Montreal

WILDTOPIA by Karen Toftegaard ApS

“Karen set up the tone of the workshop in such a smart and respectful way that suddenly a room of strangers became human beings who turned to each other for advise and honest exchange. Sharing your own professional challenges and to realise that colleagues from all over the world face the same, lifts the overwhelming pressure and allows for constructive conversations and solutions. Thank you Karen – one other attendee gave me a piece of paper where they wrote: You’ve got this! I am carrying this with me for months now and still feel the encouragement of your workshop. ”

Artistic Director, Chamáleon, Berlin