A 2-Day Gathering to connect Creative
The first few people to register and book downtown accomodation win a $20 gift card to support our local businesses!
Discover how to transform your community into a vibrant place to call home!
May 19 – 21, 2023
Our 2023 gathering will center on the Arts, Technology, and Equity.
We’re bringing together creative placemakers, community organizers, arts center leaders, and innovation ecosystem builders from all across the country.
Featuring breakout brainstorm sessions, workshops, site visits, as well as performances, projects, and visual art displays, this summit will explore the intersection between these topics as they impact our creative communities.
We hope you’ll join us in State College, PA where we promise you’ll connect with emerging and experienced leaders alike to share best practices for how you can cultivate creative communities in your region.
What should I expect?
The Creative Communities Convening is not another boring conference. Designed in an “unconference” style, you will have a chance to shape the agenda, discussions, and connections you make throughout the event.
We believe that the collective wisdom of a network is far more valuable than the individual expertise of any one individual. As a result, the event will encourage participants to share what they are learning in their own communities with the broader group. By cross-pollinating ideas, we hope to spark new collaborations and efforts by the end of the gathering.
Throughout the event, there will be a mix of participant-led workshops and field trips around the region to see creative initiatives in practice. There will be no conference room with long rows of chairs, but rather lots of opportunities to build more intimate and meaningful relationships with others in attendance.
Who is it for?
The short answer: if you care about making your community a better place, this event is for you! Those who say ‘yes’ to join us are likely:
- looking for inspiration, tools and creative examples that they can apply in their community,
- craving a network of like-minded community leaders that they can build friendships with, collaborate alongside and lean on,
- motivated to drive change in their town, regardless of their age or prior experience.
If you are in a position of leadership in your town, please know that this event is a great opportunity to encourage a few emerging leaders from your community to attend together.
our promise to you…
Agenda
Friday, May 19
- 6:00 – 7:00p: Optional Drop-in Meet + Greet
- @ Boal City Brewing
281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg, PA 16827
- @ Boal City Brewing
Saturday, May 20:
- 9:00 – 11:00a: Welcome + Kick-off Open Space
- @ Innovation Hub 1st Floor
123 S Burrowes St, State College, PA 16801
- @ Innovation Hub 1st Floor
- 11:00 – 11:30a: OriginLabs Tour
- 11:30 – 3:00p: Choose Your Own Lunch Adventure
- There are a few groups that are hosting events during this time around town. Check them out and find lunch along the way. Option A will require having a car to visit the locations (carpooling is an option), whereas Option B can be accessed by walking downtown
- 3:00 – 5:00p: WikiBlock Creator Studio
- @ The Rivet
1224 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803
- @ The Rivet
- 7:00 – 10:00p: 3 Dots After Dark
- @ 3 Dots
137 East Beaver Avenue, State College, PA 16803
- @ 3 Dots
Sunday, May 21:
- 9:30 – 11:30a: Closing Open Space
- @ Stone Valley Recreation Area
Stone Valley Recreation Area, Petersburg, PA 16669
- @ Stone Valley Recreation Area
Participants are encouraged to arrive in State College Friday evening and stay through Sunday afternoon. For those that would like to stay in town longer on Sunday, participants are welcome to organize other excursions in the area. Central PA is the perfect place to unwind and relax, so this is your chance to kayak down a creek or stroll through one of the charming neighboring downtowns with the new friends you’ve made!
Cost
Super Early-Bird (Buy Before March 15 = $49/person)
Early-Bird (Buy Before April 15 = $75/person)
Regular Ticket (Ticket Sales Close May 15 = $99/person)
** Accommodation is not included. **
⌛ Early-Bird Bonus: The first few people who register and show proof of receipt for booking accommodation in downtown State College will receive a $20 gift card to support our local businesses, courtesy of the Downtown State College Improvement District.
Field Trip Options
Option A: Outdoor Recreation & Placemaking
Option B: Multigenerational Art Spaces
- Baby Rave at 3 Dots (10-12p)
- Jazz Jam at 3 Dots (1-4p)
- Open Studio @ the Makery (11-2p)
- Arboretum
Accommodations + Travel
Participants are encouraged to find and pay for their own accommodation for the gathering. We have a wide range of options, from Airbnbs to downtown hotels.
If walkability is important to you, we encourage you to find somewhere to stay near downtown as that’s where 3 Dots is located. Otherwise, 3 Dots is attached to a parking deck that you can use throughout the event.
For those flying into town, there is a local airport listed as University Park (SCE) that you can conveniently fly into.
Venue
Scholarships Available
We have a limited number of scholarships to offer to individuals who would be unable to attend due to financial concerns. These scholarships allow you to attend the event free of charge, and you will simply need to cover your accommodation. Please contact [email protected] to learn more.
May 19 – 21, 2023
Get to Know State College
State College is a hidden gem in central Pennsylvania. As a college town with a population of ~100,000 (half of which are students), we have many of the resources of a large city (bands, theatre, sports, etc.) but are surrounded by the intimacy and natural beauty of the region.
Nature Lover’s Paradise
Ranked one of the best Adventure Towns on the East Coast by National Geographic, State College is home to some of the top mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, sky diving and hiking trails all within minutes from downtown.
Happy in Happy Valley
Consistently ranked as one of the safest, least stressful and happiest places in the country, State College proudly dons the title Happy Valley.
Prime for Placemaking
Our region has lots of organizations dedicated to bolstering the creative economy. From makerspaces to craft studios, and pop-up vendor fairs to outdoor music festivals.
Everything Within a Few Blocks
Forget your car – we prefer to walk and bike in this town, so much so that we were ranked in the top 2% for bike-commuting small towns.
Conveniently Located
Located centrally between key metropolitan regions along the east coast, State College is easy to get to and from cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or DC. And we’re not bragging, but our airport takes about 5 minutes to get through…
Made possible thanks to the support from:
