summit 4 program

Drop in at the Colle Opera House on your way home, give us feedback

on the conference, have a snack, and continue the networking magic

This workshop looks at the art that comes together each day to create the local paper and how it’s digital distribution becomes the voice of the community. We will review the capturing and recording of events artistically and how the digital age has modified the craft. Reinig Morris is director of digital marketing, Newspapers of New England

ThreshHold Cooperative will introduce their plans for the creation of a cooperatively owned cultural center in Turners Falls. This will serve as starting place to facilitate a conversation about the potential of reclaiming the term social sculpture and asking how we can create spaces that support art and artists as a creative actions within a social context.

2D artists will learn about options for putting artwork on merchandise online (Print on Demand – POD). Find out about different POD choices & the variety of items one can print on. Diane will demonstrate the process of preparing for & listing an item at Zazzle. Where from there depends on participants’ needs – demos of other PODs, choosing a POD, opening a shop, marketing, tagging, prepping are possibilities.

This workshop is intended for anyone — artists, businesspeople, civic leaders and staff, and the general public — who wants to become more comfortable, proficient and effective at public speaking. When your goal is to persuade, inform, entertain or inspire an audience, your focus, and your audience’s attention, should be on your message, not you. Audience participation in this session is encouraged.

A talk and workshop-based discussion with John Bechtold about the converging worlds of teaching and practice in the arts.  Many of us in the arts work in some capacity as educators.  Often, these two roles seem to compete as much as converge with each other.  How does one reconcile vocation with avocation?  John is the Department Head for Performing Arts at Amherst Regional Middle and High Schools and the Director of DASAC – a large, postmodern visual and performing arts program for teens at Deerfield Academy.  His work in theater encompasses direction, devising of original works and stage/lighting design.

The City of Pittsfield in Berkshire County has transformed itself from the “hole in the donut” to a bustling creative hub in less than a decade through a strong focus on creative placemaking and cultural revitalization, and we’re still in progress. The role of city gov’t & the establishment of an Office of Cultural Development was key. We’ll tell you how it all happened. Anticipated audience: Blend.

Learn how the Rethinking the Creative Economy action research team cultivated nested networks of artists for regional identity & economic development. See how an online, multi-disciplinary art show can both showcase and acknowledge local artists. (Blended audience)

This workshop will introduce participants to the power of creating and using short personal/public stories for social action.  First, we will learn the power of story to inspire and motivate.  We will then enter into collaborative story circles where we will begin to build our individual stories.  This workshop is for anyone who would like to encourage others to join in volunteering, enrolling, fundraising or citizen advocacy.

The workshop will describe two signature initiatives of Pro Springfield Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the conversation about Springfield. This 501(c)3 was formed by TSM Design, a marketing and brand development firm. We believe artists/businesses and municipal leaders will find the workshop informative.