OVERVIEW:
Each year ArtPlace gathered a community of colleagues in the field of creative placemaking to connect and share knowledge and experiences. As the lead organizer of these annual conferences from 2017 to 2020, I focused on cultivating meaningful connections between peers rather than classroom-style learning. The summits in Seattle, WA, Louisville, KY, and Jackson, MS averaged 400 attendees each, growing every year. Attendees were primarily ArtPlace grantees, funders, and partners, with the exception of 2020 which was an open, virtual event drawing more than 3,000 registrants and featuring 100 sessions with 150 speakers.