Panels: Taking creative businesses to the next level through collaboration
The Creative Economy Summit is a major regional event designed to increase the capacity and success of the creative industries in Western Massachusetts. This annual convening of the creative sector provides the opportunity to network, address public/private partnerships, gain business and technical skills, and access practical information about available resources.
The event features panels of leaders in the creative industries discussing issues, resources, and successes relating to the fields of Marketing, Architecture, Visual Arts & Craft, Design, Film & Media, Digital Games, Music & Entertainment, and Publishing. The panels center around five action areas the state of Massachusetts has identified as crucial to the success of this sector of the economy.
Sessions:
Business Development and Access to Capital: Generate new opportunities for the businesses, organizations, and individuals working in the creative industries. Improve access to technical assistance, expertise, mentorship, and training for companies within the creative industries by bringing coherence and integration of the available state, regional, and local resources.
Increase access to direct financial support for creative industry organizations and businesses. Help coordinate trainings and mitigate barriers to access.
Speakers: Fred Fierst, Mitch Anthony, Paul Silva, Jon Crispin
Visibility: Bring awareness and attention to the value and quality of the creative industries in Massachusetts. Develop opportunities to connect, feature, and highlight the creative industries through events, campaigns, and content generation in traditional and social media.
Speakers: Amrita Ramanan, Janna Ugone, Justin Thomas, Kamil Peters, Bronwen Hodgkinson
Talent: Develop connections to interns and college students within the creative industries. Generate initiatives for the creative industries to access and attract entry level, middle, and upper level talent.
Speakers: Caroline Gould, Paul Hake, William Baczek
Space: Survey the existing and developing convening, incubator, and working space resources available for the creative industries. Seek additional opportunities to support the development of additional space and recruit businesses to use the spaces.
Speakers: Aaron Vega, Jen Faigel, Kerry Dietz, Umberto Crenca, Molly Rubenstein, Seth Lepore, Evan Plotkin