Central Arts Library's Pro Series features accomplished practitioners' talks and workshops on design and performing arts disciplines.

How can we design experiences that not only resonate with audiences but also empower them to take action in their own lives and communities? In this talk, theatre artist and designer Elizabeth Mak shares how she creates immersive worlds that give audiences agency, from participatory installations on climate and the economy to experiential works about migration and belonging. Through projects such as Scarce City (National Gallery Singapore) and Port of Entry (Chicago), she explores how scenography can move beyond the stage to spark connection, reflection, and collective action in the real world.

About The Speaker 
Elizabeth Mak is an interdisciplinary artist and designer interested in how participatory art can prompt critical rethinking of systems, structures, and crises. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Rainshadow Studios (rainshadowstudios.org), a climate arts and education non-profit. Elizabeth has over 15 years of experience in scenography, lighting, and multimedia design and has designed across the US, Europe, and Asia, and worked with companies such as HBO, The Public Theater, and the Kennedy Center. Elizabeth has an MFA in Design from the Yale School of Drama and is currently a lecturer at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).