Creative Exchange

A one-day summit to help artists sharpen their careers, expand their networks.

📣 Join us for the second annual Creative Exchange— A one-day professional development experience designed to strengthen the capacity, sustainability, and economic mobility of artists across Northeast Ohio.

✅ Light breakfast and full lunch included.

THE WORKSHOPS

•  Art Activates Change

Discover how art fuels resistance and drives social change. This dynamic session explores protest imagery, powerful slogans, and storytelling rooted in lived experience. Participants will collaborate to craft a bold, unifying message with the potential to be featured on Akron Black Artist Guild merchandise.

• “Am I a Business?”

Turn your creativity into a sustainable business. Led by a small business counselor, this practical session breaks down LLCs and sole proprietorships, budgeting for artists, tax write-offs, and studio setup options. Walk away with clarity and a simple 6-month financial action plan.

• “What Does Your Portfolio Say About You?”

Make sure your work speaks before you do. This interactive session helps artists evaluate their portfolio through a curator’s lens, strengthen their artist statement, refine their brand message, and craft a confident elevator pitch. Leave with a clear checklist to elevate your presentation and impact.

•  Rest Is Resistance

Recharge your creativity and embrace rest as a powerful act. This wellness-focused session teaches grounding techniques, helps recognize burnout, and guides artists in building sustainable creative habits and personal affirmations for resilience.

• Bringing Your Character to Life

Build characters that feel real and stories that resonate. This engaging workshop guides writers through character development, world-building, conflict creation, and authentic dialogue equipping you with practical tools to strengthen narrative consistency and bring your stories to life.

• Panel: Creative Exchange Design Showcase: “Meet the Artists!”

Step inside the creative process. Meet the Design Challenge teams as they share how they transformed blank spaces into immersive artistic experiences. Learn about collaboration, sourcing, and execution while connecting directly with artists and exploring future partnership opportunities.