2024 Creative Sector Convening

Join us for the 2024 Creative Sector Convening on June 6, 2024! We will start the day at the Bellows Falls Opera House, 7 Village Square. Sessions will be held at other locations throughout Bellows Falls.

For arts and culture organizations, community organizations, businesses, and others working in Vermont’s vibrant creative sector, the Convening will offer plenty of hands-on opportunities to network, learn, and advocate. The event will focus on three broad topics that center creativity in our communities: creative entrepreneurship, community resilience, and casemaking. Gather with your fellow creatives and community builders to be inspired, make connections, and learn new skills to invigorate Vermont communities through creativity. Creative experiences will fuel your day!

The convening is held in conjunction with the Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference, hosted by Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, on June 5 in Bellows Falls. Learn about places to stay and things to do in Bellows Falls.
Sessions*
*Check back for speakers and more details at we get closer to the date.

Building Inclusive Creative Communities
Continue the conversation from the June 5 Downtown Conference on their theme of “Downtowns for Everyone” – explore how we build inclusive, welcoming communities through the creative sector.

Creative Placemaking for Community Resilience
Artists and communities statewide are re-envisioning spaces to forge a sense of identity through the arts. Explore examples of creative placemaking projects and learn how to turn your ideas into creative placemaking reality.

Creative Entrepreneurship
Learn what it means to be a creative entrepreneur and hone the skills you need to take charge of your creative business.

Maximize Your Marketing Message in the Modern Media World
In a changing world of local media outlets, learn new tools and approaches to spreading the word about your creative work from a longtime communications expert.

Legal Resources for the Creative Sector: The Vermont Small Business Law Center
Meet the dedicated team of lawyers, students, and community partners at the Vermont Small Business Law Center and learn about the resources available to empower creative businesses and entrepreneurs with access to legal services.

Shaping the Future of the Vermont Arts Council
Get hands-on with the Vermont Arts Council’s strategic planning process and make sure that your voice, your experience, and your input is part of the Arts Council’s future and the future of Vermont.

Art & Inclusion: Removing Barriers to Accessibility in the Creative Sector
Accessibility is at the core of inclusive practice in the creative sector. Learn how to increase accessibility and build a more welcoming creative sector for everyone.

Creatives at the Table: Get Involved in Local Government and Planning
Learn more about the many layers that make up Vermont’s civic infrastructure and ensure that the creative sector always has a seat at the table.