CreativeGround Update: Growing Together

Woman outside smiles in front of autumnal trees

Arts and Culture of New England, how does your garden grow?
On CreativeGround with artists, cultural organizations, and creative workers all in a row

CreativeGround is New England’s free online cultural directory. This online community is a real-time reflection of the rich range of creative people and places at work in the six New England states. CreativeGround includes over 30,000 public profiles for cultural nonprofits, creative businesses, and artists of all disciplines. Why? To connect them with each other, with resources, and with you.

Interior of a high ceiling room within a converted church. Displays of local artists are on tables lining the walls — 42 Maple Contemporary Art Center in Bethlehem, NH

Six years after CreativeGround’s launch, NEFA’s Creative Economy team worked with planners to make a roadmap to sustainability for the site. CreativeGround's mission is to make visible, connect, and build knowledge within and about the creative sector of New England; the platform aims to show that vibrant neighborhoods go hand-in-hand with a vibrant creative sector. This year, we’ve been working with our web developers to put in place top priority functionality. We're improving the site's user-friendliness by meeting AAA Accessibility standards, and we're inviting more community-building opportunities by amplifying creative economy stories with testimonies and data. The launch of the refreshed site is expected by the end of 2020.

A group of dramatically lit performers all reach toward one lit light bulb, hanging on a wire from the ceiling. — Aaron Jafferis (New Haven, CT) performance | Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt

You can always find the latest CreativeGround Upgrade information on the CreativeGround News page. This online platform is of increasing importance during a time when virtual engagement is so prevalent. CreativeGround showcases the vitality of the New England region’s creative economy, and it creates opportunity for connecting the region’s resources to each other. Our creative workers have expertise to share with each other (and beyond), and it is imperative that we continue to share how our sector is shifting and adjusting to meet current challenges.

The new and improved CreativeGround will include:

An improved user experience with a friendly aesthetic
- A mobile-responsive website to improve your experience digging into the 'Ground on your phone or tablet
- Refreshed, modern look with functionality that surpasses AAA accessibility standards
- Combined Search and Explore with improved sorting options, and a more guided and engaged design to help you show your best work on your profile
- Sign up to express your interest in being a Beta Tester for the innovated site. All levels of tech experience encouraged!
A blog that shares your creative sector stories with your regional community
- We are collecting your stories now! Nominate your profile to be featured and indicate your interest in submitting blog content.
- Share the pandemic's effect on New England's shifting cultural landscape by submitting your experience through our COVID-10 feedback form.
New England Creative Economy Network Fellows: a short-term leadership opportunity to share expertise and help your creative peers across the region; stipend and other details to be announced soon.
- Interested in becoming a New England Creative Economy Network Fellow? Nominate your profile to be featured and indicate your Fellowship interest and relevant skillsets.
Expanded social media connections: CreativeGround will be launching an Instagram account, and you'll be able to include your Instagram on your CreativeGround profile.
- We'll also be sponsoring artist/organization takeovers of our various social media channels. Nominate your profile to be featured and add your Social Media takeover interest in the comment section.