Creative Economy Summit: Art at Work

Driving Economic Vitality Through Culture & Innovation

📅 Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
🕣 Time: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Five Points Art Center. 855 University Drive, Torrington, CT
🎟 Tickets: $25 (includes networking breakfast and full program)

Join us for a half-day summit focused on spotlighting the creative economy in Northwest Connecticut. Hosted by the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council and the Northwest Hills Council of Governments, this event brings together artists, cultural leaders, municipal officials, funders, and business professionals to explore the role of creativity in economic and community development.

Panels & Panelists:

Creative Economy Panel:

Rista Malanca of the NW Hills Council of Governments (Moderator)
Michelle McCabe of CT Main Street
Kristy Barto of Nutmeg Fudge Co.
Nils Johnson of Little Red Barn Brewing
Michelle Gorra of the Community & Economic Development of Washington

Creative Tourism Panel:

Tara Marie Lynch Bares of the Litchfield Economic Development Commission (Moderator)
Alex Page-Hatley of the Bushnell/Warner Theatre
Amy Wynn of American Mural Project

Presenters:

Resource Roundtable Presenters:

Steph Burr of the NWCT Arts Council
John Fiorello of the Entrepreneurial Center of Northwest CT
Ted Shafer of NW CT Chamber of Commerce
Cyndi Tolosa of CT Humanities
Erin Mercede of the Women's Business Development Council

Creative Presenters:

Matt Conway of RiseUP for the Arts
Evan Dobos of CivicLift
Kimberly Parsons Whitaker of the CT Office of the Arts

Schedule:

8:30 - 9 am: Networking Breakfast
9 - 9:15 am: Introductions & Welcoming Remarks
9:15 - 9:45 am: Creative Economy Discussion Panel
9:45 - 10:15 am: Resource Roundtable Presentations
10:15 - 10:30 am: Innovation Spotlight Video: Market Street Creatives
10:30 - 10:45 am: Placemaking & Public Art with Matt Conway
10:45 - 11 am: CivicLift Presentation with Evan Dobos
11 am - 11:35 am: Networking & Refreshment Break
11:35 am - 12:05 pm: Creative Tourism Discussion Panel
12:05 - 12:35 pm: Cultural District Presentation with Kimberly Parsons Whitaker
12:35 - 1 pm: Takeaways & Closing Remarks

Who Should Attend:
Artists and creatives across disciplines, business owners, nonprofit cultural organizations, town planners, chamber and tourism professionals, and policymakers interested in collaboration, capacity building, and sustaining vibrant communities through culture.

Details:

Parking available on-site
Venue is fully handicapped accessible

For questions or special accommodations, please contact Steph Burr at steph@artsnwct.org or (860) 618-0075.

Sponsored by:

In partnership with:

CT Office of the Arts (DECD)
Connecticut Main Street Center
Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce
NW Hills Economic Development Collaborative

Creative Economy Summit

Art at Work: Driving Economic Vitality Through Culture