Collaboration, Community, and Creativity: Rural Arts and Creativity Forum 2024
Everyone involved in the arts, creativity, and community - which means everyone who cares about Wisconsin’s future - is invited to join colleagues and friends in northwestern Wisconsin, to discuss and celebrate opportunities and actions for growth and sustainability, at the 2024 Rural Arts and Creativity Forum, taking place on Wednesday, September 4, at The Acreage at Osceola. Register here.
The Forum is hosted by Create Wisconsin, Wisconsin Arts Board, and The Acreage at Osceola.
The Forum has a 30+ year history bringing together leaders involved in the arts, business, economic development, education, government, and politics, to share stories, issues, and ideas on how to grow the region creatively and help creative people, businesses and communities flourish. Now, as the post-pandemic world takes shape, the work is even more important, to discuss and deliberate collaboration, community, transformation and opportunities ahead.
The Acreage at Osceola is located on 360 acres of woodland and prairie habitat on the bluffs above the St. Croix River on Wisconsin’s northwestern edge. The Acreage embodies the vision and legacy left by Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients. This historic property, once serving as Horst’s residence, farm, and retreat, now serves as a model for sustainable conservation methods, a center for land and water stewardship, a place to learn, and gathering space for creatives, visionaries, and change-makers.
Agenda (draft July 2024 and subject to change)
Starting at 9 am - registration, connecting, refreshments
10 am - welcome and introductions - we’ll take the time we need for everyone to introduce themselves
11 am - Stories of Collaboration, Community, and Creativity
- The Acreage at Osceola - a journey of entrepreneurship, conservation, education, and gathering - Greg Gentle, Director
- Wisconsin's film industry development and investment - JoAnn Jardine, Studio One, Superior
- The Historic St. Croix Falls Auditorium restoration - Kathryn Cesarz, Artistic Director, Festival Theatre, and Mayor Kirk Anderson, Mayor of St. Croix Falls
- others TBA12:30 pm - lunch and networking
1:30 pm - Resources for Rural Creative Investment: presentations and discussion
- Kietra Olson, WEDC Office of Rural Prosperity
- Andrew Nussbaum, Wisconsin Department of Tourism
- George Tzougros, Wisconsin Arts Board
- Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin
- others TBA2:30 pm - roundtables and action discussions - pondering these and other questions:
Assets: what are some of the great things, big and small, going on arts and creativity-wise in your community/region? Please think of at least five, but the list is endless.
Opportunities: what are at least three things that can be done - individually and/or collectively - to encourage creative development, collaboration, and investment? Again, feel free to list as many as you can generate.
Actions: How are YOU involved in making things happen? What groups, collaboratives, leaders, and activists are and should be involved in addressing creative sector growth, investment, and access? Who’s not in the room today and should be involved/included?
4 pm - adjourn
There will be plenty of time to share events, questions, ideas, and possibilities with one another. Admission, coffee, and lunch are free and open to all. Registration is not required, but it is useful to know how many people to plan for. Register here.
Celebrate opportunities, connections, ideas, friends, and inspiration at the 2024 Rural Arts and Creativity Forum.
Questions? Contact Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin, info@createwisconsin.org