Imagining a New Future Together: Counterpublic and The International Institute of St. Louis

Counterpublic and the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL) are proud to announce a new cross-organizational partnership. Grounded in over a year of community engagement work, we are coming together to build long-term support for one of the most vital organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities in our region. As part of this collaboration, IISTL’s campus in Tower Grove East will be one of the primary exhibition sites for the Counterpublic 2026 exhibition hosting both permanent and temporary artworks, programming, and events.

This partnership comes at a critical moment: IISTL was significantly impacted by federal policy changes under the current presidential administration, resulting in the complete defunding of several core programs and the furloughing of over 60% of its staff. The 105-year-old nonprofit is the primary immigrant and refugee resettlement agency in the State of Missouri and is reliant on federal funds to support their clients.

Counterpublic Community Organizer Abraham Diaz at the IISTL Community Bazaar, Photo by Michael Thomas.

In response, Counterpublic is taking the immediate step to support IISTL’s ongoing work through a new two-year fellowship designed to strengthen ties between the two institutions and deepen their engagement with the communities they serve—both leading up to and beyond the 2026 Triennial. Guided by the vision of Counterpublic’s Director of Community Engagement Melisa Sanders, we’re rehiring a furloughed staff member into a reimagined fellowship position jointly supported by Counterpublic and IISTL.

We are pleased to share the newly appointed Community Engagement Fellow, Grace Murekatete, who will support both external and internal engagement efforts, like the return of the Festival of Nations, as well as bi-weekly community bazaars, engagement work and events, while also supporting the realization of Counterpublic's artist projects at IISTL through 2026.

Community Engagement Fellow, Grace Murekatete. Photo by Carly Faye.

Building and sustaining community is a long-term process—one that demands care, intention, creativity, and, most importantly, action. We’re honored to support a critical institution like IISTL and to steward this partnership in a time of great need. New Americans are essential to the fabric of our city, and we remain committed to working collaboratively and creatively to support all members of our St. Louis communities—especially in moments of profound change, uncertainty, and injustice.

–Melisa Betts Sanders, Director of Community Engagement

Counterpublic team members at the IISTL Community Bazaar. Photo by Michael Thomas.

As federal cuts continue to expand to reach arts funding and many other organizations in our region and nation, we believe now is the time to envision and advance the worlds we want beyond the bounds of the attacks from the current administration.

Nonprofits will survive this time by standing together and pushing forward new ways of working. This is one step among many Counterpublic aims to take throughout our 2026 exhibition cycle as we advance the role of art and long-term impact and foreground collaborative futures for our region.