Arts Alive! coordinated the Arts Track of the Radically Rural Summit - beyond the learning sessions, there were opportunities to connect and meet and learn about other opportunities and resources for the creative economy and creative communities.
Radically Rural is an annual two-day summit that brings together hundreds people who are passionate about creating vibrant, robust rural communities and eager to learn, connect and lead change. Broad shifts in demographics, communications, technology, economic development, and personal values are generating creative responses from innovative thinkers, change-makers, entrepreneurs, and community-builders who love their towns and know their advantages. Not only do we have inspirational learning sessions, but there are fun ways to mix up learning and networking throughout the Summit:
Makerspace Mixer
The NH Makerspace Network invited Radically Rural participants to a mixer at Make It So, a budding makerspace in downtown Keene. The conversation focused around vision, possibility, and work already happening in the makerspace community across the state to enliven local economies.
This is a great article from Yahoo Finance about the Small Business Administration’s invetsment in Makerspaces. Makerspaces are making way for economic development, assisting in jobs training, and helping grow small local economies.
This event was supported by NH State Council on the Arts.
League of NH Craftsmen Mixer
Fine craft relies heavily on natural elements and inspiration from the world around us. Members and crafters for The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen store in Keene create beauty from wood, fibers, found objects, and develop designs that have organic flair. It's no wonder that Keene store owner Taryn Fisher sees the resonance between her shop and the powerful local environmental movement.
At this mixer, participants dropped in for conversations on our current climate crisis. There was also an art-making activity to express concerns about global changes influenced by climate change, and to celebrate positive visions of the impacts of carbon neutrality.
Creative Ground Mixer with New England Foundation for the Arts
Morganna Becker, from New England Foundation for the Arts hosted a lunch at Luca’s Medeterranean Cafe, to promote resources to artists, including their New England-wide database of creative businesses, Creative Ground. Also, she shared a new grant opportunity for artists called the Public Art Learning Fund, which provides professional development grants to artists interested in training in skills and techniques related to Public Art.
For more information on Creative Ground visit: creativeground.org
For more information n the Public Art Learning Fund visit: nefa.org/PublicArtLearningFund