Darya Pilram
Hometown:
Nashville, TN
Connect: LinkedIn
Darya is excited to be supporting and living within a thriving artist community; her project involves deeply connecting with artists and exploring various mechanisms for art to influence positive change, inclusive policy, and social justice initiatives. Her professional superpowers include connecting seemingly disparate dots across communities and domains, facilitating groups through complex decision-making processes, and translating complex ideas and issues into manageable, approachable plans and processes with common ground.
Darya Pilram is joining the ERC cohort fresh from an art apprenticeship in Kyoto, Japan, part of a 6-month sabbatical that led to an entirely new career: establishing the creative arts districts for Spokane, WA and Coeur d’Alene, ID. She spent over a decade with the Dept. of Defense serving as a field anthropologist embedded in conflict and post-conflict environments advising military and defense teams involved in stability operations and disaster response. She championed the concept of human-aspect-of-military operations into a second career in user experience research and policy. Hanging up her combat boots, Darya transitioned into tech to advise large companies on human safety and security grounded in human experience and behavioral science – this took her from riding on the back of motorbikes in Indonesia to informing safeguards in autonomous vehicles and behavioral nudges related to election security and cults on Twitter.
When she moved to Nashville, TN, Darya discovered a new passion for working with her hands, pursuing pottery, garment sewing, and urban foodscapes. Midway through 2023, she joined an art apprenticeship in Kyoto, Japan to learn the art of Kintsugi Repair–an experience that revealed the special bonds of community and the power to influence change through creativity and grit.
Outside of work and art, Darya is a competitive sailor who loves hosting themed dinner parties and exploring the outdoors with her fiancé. Darya holds an MPH-Global Health from GWU, BA in Anthropology and International Studies from UCSD, and a private pilot’s license. She’s a fellow with the Truman National Security Project, Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity, and a chainsaw operator for Team Rubicon.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Mountain NW Creative District Certification
Host Community or Region:
Idaho and Washington
Host Organization:
Coeur d'Alene Area EDC & Greater Spokane Inc.
This initiative aims to establish Certified Creative Districts in Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, harnessing and promoting the region’s abundant creative talent and cultural vibrancy. These districts are crucial for fortifying the area’s long-term economic well-being by serving as hubs of innovation, culture, and entrepreneurship. They will generate jobs, attract tourists, and nurture a diverse cultural scene, advancing regional economic development strategies. The ERC Fellow will conduct extensive research, advocate for the districts, explore funding opportunities, and enhance the capacity of the creative sector. They will also monitor and assess the economic impact of the districts. The outcome will be the establishment of vibrant creative districts that boost economic growth and cultural tourism. The impact of this project will be significant in the Inland Northwest, benefitting artists, makers, culture creators, and the broader community in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
