Our Story
Public Display Agency was born from a shared belief that creativity connects us. Art, business, and community all begin with empathy and the desire to create something meaningful together.
We launched with events and learning, giving artists space to be seen and the tools to build sustainable careers. As the movement grew, we realized that creativity doesn’t thrive in isolation. To truly support artists, we needed to nurture the entire ecosystem, including the supporters who make creativity possible.
That understanding led to the creation of the Public Display Economy, a people-powered model that connects artists, audiences, and supporters through shared creativity and direct impact.
Today, PDA continues to grow as a living network built on compassion, connection, and creation, proving that when artists, audiences, and supporters grow together, everyone belongs.
Michelle Bylow
Michelle Bylow is guided by deep empathy and a belief that creativity connects people in meaningful ways. She sees creation as an act of care that fosters belonging and shared humanity.
An accomplished arts leader, Michelle has led organizations, built artist programming, and continually innovated within the industry to make the arts more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. Her work bridges creativity and strategy, helping artists and audiences connect through experiences that inspire and empower.
Today, she serves as the Co-Founder and CEO of Public Display Agency (PDA) and Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Performing Arts Festival (COPAF), where she continues to champion connection, creativity, and community across Canada.
Fun Fact: Michelle is a passionate vegan, animal lover, and snowboarder!
David Pattee
David Pattee is dedicated to making the arts more inclusive and accessible. A top graduate in graphic design, his career spans the private and public sectors, including animation, radio and as a college instructor. Despite success in commercial art, he craved the freedom of fine art and the opportunity to create without limits. As Director of Curation for RAW Artists Canada, he scouted diverse talent, produced engaging showcases, and built artistic communities. Seeing the need for more opportunities and support for artists, he helped launch PDA to foster creativity and provide the resources artists need to grow their careers.
Fun Fact: David shares his living space with a 6’ humanoid robot he built himself.
Our Vision
A living creative economy where artists, audiences, and supporters grow together through empathy, opportunity, and shared purpose.