What's Happening
Stay Connected
Receive the latest news, grant offerings, and community events.
Splash into the latest round of CreativeGround featured profiles on the Home and About pages! Dip your toes by reading the summer-ies of these stellar profiles below; then, do a deep dive by clicking on the image to view their profile and learn more about their work and collaborators. How cool is it that New England is home to these profiles that make our creative economy so hot?
Want more? Search by keyword and Explore your locale on CreativeGround to find the creative businesses, cultural nonprofits, and artists in your community.
Perhaps you’ll be even be inspired to build your own robust, feature-worthy profile…
Ciara Zadi
Ciara Zadi is an award-winning performing artist with a background in a variety of dance techniques. With a background in Cultural Anthropology, Ciara uses influences from different cultures when working on stage and site-specific productions. She has worked with diverse communities as an instructor, choreographer and performer to help spread her love of dance and art. Ciara specializes in Ballet Folklorico, Bellydance, Flamenco, Folk and Modern. She performs, choreographs, and instructs for fairs, festivals and performances around the world.
Jamestown Arts Center
The Mission of the Jamestown Arts Center is to engage, enrich and inspire our community through extraordinary arts and educational experiences. The Jamestown Arts Center is a multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts space that hosts art exhibits, theatre and dance performances, film screenings, JAC talks and concerts, and provides art and design educational programs for people of all ages. Housed in a former boat repair shop, the JAC began operation in 2010 and will celebrate its 10 year anniversary in 2020. The JAC was awarded Best Gallery in Newport County by the Best of Rhode Island 2017 & 2018 readers’ polls and the Looking Upwards Community Partner Award in 2018. The Jamestown Arts Center has quickly become a leading arts and cultural hub, for Rhode Island and beyond, where creativity, ideas and innovation flourish.
Jon Hope
“When passion is your touchpoint, you can’t lose!” is the daily mantra for Harrison ‘Jon Hope’ Grigsby that has propelled him to new heights through his creative endeavors that blend Hip Hop, culture, education, and entertainment. He has taken his life experiences and manifested them into tools of inspiration for all he encounters. Under the alias Jon Hope, Grigsby’s ability to illustrate street episodes and empower the have nots has garnered him critical acclaim worldwide. His growing catalogue of independent albums and visual content spans over a decade and position him as a bright New England star. Be sure to check out Jon Hope’s videos in his Media Gallery.
Judith Bird Art
Judith Bird is a fine artist, muralist, illustrator, decorative painter and Expressive Arts Educator. She has a Decorative Painting business based in Burlington, Connecticut, where she creates murals, decorative wall paintings, faux finishes, trompe l’oeil, hand painted furniture, and floor cloths. Her public work adorns the walls of the indoor exhibit hall at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington, CT. Judith is interested in bringing her decorative murals into spaces focused on healing. One project involved unique murals in the exam rooms of a doctor's office in Avon. Learn more about her techniques and arts in healthcare services on her CreativeGround profile.
Maine Crafts Association
The Maine Crafts Association supports craft artists by providing educational, marketing and retail opportunities in order to strengthen individual craft artists, Maine communities, local economies, and the visitor experience by making Maine a national crafts destination. MCA programming and events build community and enrich the lives of Mainers; this is achieved by connecting artists with the public, contributing to a creative and entrepreneurial Maine culture, and creating channels for artists to grow their business reach and increase their economic status.
New Hampshire Telephone Museum
A visit to the NH Telephone Museum begins with a short video followed by a guided tour by one of their friendly, knowledgeable tour guides. Hear stories about party lines, operators, and the early beginnings of rural telephone service as told by the folks that lived and worked during those times. Learn the real story of the race to claim the title of “inventor of the telephone”. The museum even includes one family’s surprising collection of nearly 1000 telephone related artifacts. Did this write up ring you into making a call on their CreativeGround profile?
Norwood Space Center
“We aren’t the aeronautic space you thought we were, we are creative work space.” The Norwood Space Center (NSC) is a community of small business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, creatives, performers and collectors. With shared common and conference room space, businesses who reside at the NSC brainstorm, work in unconventional space and socialize with individuals from many different industries. NSC offers a mix of retail, commercial and creative space ranging from small artist studios of 250 square feet to large commercial suites of 8000 square feet in addition to a 15,000 square foot event space.. Whether a musical event, fundraiser or private function, NSC has a gathering place for “one of a kind” experiences.