The Nebraska Arts Council Creative District Assembly and Statewide Arts Conference is the first of its kind. This biennial conference will take place this year September 5th and 6th in Beatrice, NE. On Thursday, sessions will focus on growing strong and successful creative districts. Thursday sessions are open to communities going through the process, certified districts, and those interested in the process.
Friday will feature sessions focused on public art, arts & healthcare, arts sustainability, and creative aging through the arts. Sessions will be led by artists, local, regional, and national presenters who are experts in their field.
Get ready to experience the community of Beatrice. Say goodbye to boring meeting rooms – sessions will take place in vibrant, locally-owned creative businesses. This approach will allow ample opportunities for networking and witnessing the creative economy in action!
Hover over or tap the stars on the map below to learn more about each venue.
Download Full Agenda Here Conference Accessibility Guide
Registration is $35 for Thursday, $50 for Friday, and $85 for both days.
If a Creative District is a member of Nebraskans for the Arts, the district will receive a discount of $35 on one registration. If you are not a member, you can join now!
In order to receive the discount for Thursday’s Creative Districts Assembly, you must join Nebraskans for the Arts by August 16, 2024. To utilize the discount, please contact Jennifer Dreibelbis at the time of registration.
While in Beatrice for this event you can sign up for ceramic workshops at Blush Ceramic Studio in the Mercantile Building, 301 Court Street, Lower Level. To reserve your spot, please register through the provided link directly through Blush Ceramic Studio: https://www.blushceramicstudio.com/book-online.
Reservations are due by August 28th. Register for the Assembly and Conference below:
Both the Holiday Inn and My Place are offering group rates. Just tell them you are with the Nebraska Arts Council Conference when making your reservation.
Hotel Costs (starting at):
9:30 am Registration and Coffee
Location: Vintage Venue, 620 Court Street, Beatrice
10:00 am Welcome & Introductions
Welcome to Beatrice by Morgan Fox, Main Street Beatrice
State of the Arts by Mike Markey, Nebraska Arts Council
Location: Vintage Venue, 620 Court Street, Beatrice
11:00 am After the Grant: Building and Sustaining Community Engagement
Presenter: Carla Patterson
Description:
City leaders, community members, and artists have met, talked, and imagined together and a plan is in place. But long-term success for a Creative Community initiative is about agency. It means centering on, and engaging with, the local community. What does that mean? What does it look like when done well?
This session will be a facilitated discussion on ways to move above and beyond just sharing information and benchmarks with stakeholders. This session will explore strategies to continue to animate the creative district through robust community engagement. Session attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences and challenges. Session participants will leave with tools to enhance their community engagement efforts and strengthen their volunteer base.
12:00 pm Lunch provided
Greeting from the First Lady
CreDis Awards
The CreDis awards are presented to individuals and Creative Districts that exhibit leadership, innovation, or support for the Creative District Program. The award title cleverly combines the two words of the program, Creative District. Serendipitously, in Latin, CreDis can also mean “to believe in, rely on, entrust.” Rather fitting.
1:00 pm Programs and Services from Mid-America Arts Alliance
Presenter: Margaret Keough, Mid-America Arts Alliance
Learn about programs and grants from the Mid-America Arts Alliance and how you can use these resources in your Creative District.
1:30 pm Advocacy Training 101
Presenter: Lance Nielsen, Nebraskans for the Arts
Description:
Nebraskans for the Arts (NFTA) represents arts organizations and individual members across the state. NFTA advises policy makers, elected officials, and community leaders on the importance of strong arts education in our schools, the economic impact of the arts in our communities, and the benefits of pro-arts policies for Nebraska. Dr. Lance Nielsen, Executive Director of NFTA, will share the importance of Creative Districts being involved in our advocacy efforts and how they can become a part of our advocacy network.
2:00 pm Exploring Data for the Arts and the Art of Data
Presenter: Josie Schafer, Ph.D., University of Nebraska – Omaha
Description:
This presentation will explore existing data resources to build your local case for the economic and community development importance of the arts, culture, and humanities. Attendees will learn practical tips for collecting and transforming local data into compelling stories to advocate for the arts in Nebraska communities and support funding efforts. View numerous examples of this type of work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research in different contexts.
2:45 pm Taste of the Districts
Get ready to show off your district! Bring a snack or beverage that is unique, represents, or is made/prepared/consumed in your Creative District. Dips and salsas, chocolates and candies, pastries and chips, hometown favorites and treasured exports are all welcome. Please remember to bring enough to share a taste with approximately 50 people.
3:30 pm Telling our Story
Presenter: David Wayne Reed
Description:
Telling Our Story is a writing workshop led by David Wayne Reed (creator of Shelf Life, and Goliath) where participants learn to identify and craft the stories of the impact of art in their communities using dramatic structure and generative exercises to explore identity, trajectory, and craft a vision for the future.
4:15 pm Beatrice Creative District Walking Tour
5-7 pm Create a Ceramic Mug (optional break out session, additional cost $30)
Presenter: Lauren Scheele
Location: Blush Ceramic Studio in the Mercantile Building, 301 Court Street, lower level
Description:
Lauren Scheele, owner of Blush Ceramic Studio, will lead a workshop of ten registrants to hand-build a ceramic mug using a slab-building technique, which each registrant will be able to keep at the end of the workshop*. To reserve your spot, please register through the provided link directly through Blush Ceramic Studio: https://www.blushceramicstudio.com/book-online.
*If you live far away from Beatrice and can’t return to pick up the fired piece, Lauren Scheele offers shipping for $10.
5:30 pm Mixer/Happy Hour
Location: Stone Hollow Brewing Company, 301 Court Street, Beatrice
Description:
Mingle with fellow attendees over a beverage! Reflect on the day’s sessions and consider new ideas and collaborations that may work in your community.
Stone Hollow Brewing Company is a production brewery and tap house located in Beatrice. They offer quality and adventurous beer in a unique setting.
Dinner on your own: The Pickrell Locker and Smokehouse food truck will be on hand or you can order in from local eateries.
7:00 – 8:00 pm Featured Artist: Josh Hoyer
Location: Stone Hollow Brewing Company, 301 Court Street, Beatrice
Description:
Josh Hoyer’s combination of soul, funk and R&B is, in a word, electric. Best displayed in a high-energy live show, the blend of Hoyer’s honest lyrics and his rich, intensely soulful vocals merge to create an undeniable chemistry.
(all times for this conference are Central Time)
8:30 am Registration and Coffee
Location: Vintage Venue, 620 Court Street, Beatrice
9:30 am Welcome
Artist Performance by Matt Mason, Nebraska State Poet
Matt Mason is the Nebraska State Poet and has run workshops through the US State Department in Botswana, Romania, Nepal, and Belarus. Mason is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets and the Nebraska Arts Council. His work can be found in The New York Times, on NPR’s Morning Edition, in American Life in Poetry, and more. Mason’s 5th book of poetry, Rock Stars, was published by Button Poetry in 2023. Matt is based out of Omaha with his wife, the poet Sarah McKinstry-Brown, and daughters Sophia and Lucia.
Update from Lance Nielsen, Nebraskans for the Arts
Nebraskans for the Arts (NFTA) represents arts organizations and individual members across the state. NFTA advises policy makers, elected officials, and community leaders on the importance of strong arts education in our schools, the economic impact of the arts in our communities, and the benefits of pro-arts policies for Nebraska. Dr. Lance Nielsen, Executive Director of NFTA, will share updates on current issues impacting the arts, election year initiatives, and how to join the Nebraska Arts Advocacy Network.
Update from Margaret Keough, MidAmerica Arts Alliance
10:30 am Keynote: Art as an Ecosystem
Presenter: David Wayne Reed
BIO: David Wayne Reed (he/him/his) is a writer/director born in rural Kansas, creating works inspired by narratives of landscape, memory, transformation, and time.
His films, Eternal Harvest and land and flower have played multiple film festivals including Middlebury New Filmmaker’s Festival, Tallgrass Film Festival, Kansas City International Film Festival and can be seen in rotation on KCPT-PBS.
David Wayne Reed will deliver the keynote address discussing his art as well as the dynamic nature of ‘art as an ecosystem’, focusing on the evolving role of artists and their societal impact and how artistic endeavors contribute significantly to community development and local economies. Lastly, Reed will discuss the importance of representation of artists in civic spaces, advocating for the inclusion of diverse artistic voices and perspectives in public discourse, engagement, and decision-making.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Lunch provided
BiTSY Awards
The BiTSY Awards have become a tradition at the conference. An acronym for Behind the Scenes, these awards are chosen by the Nebraska Arts Council staff and given to those that tend to work behind the scenes to make wonderful things happen in their community or organization.
12:45 – 1:30 pm Breakout Session 1 (choose from one of the following)
Preparing Your Elevator Pitch
Presenter: Byron Anway, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Location: Vintage Venue
Description:
An elevator pitch is a one-sentence introduction to your artwork. A clear and concise introduction to the work that you do, or that your organization does, is valuable to any arts professional.
In this session we will learn the essential parts of an effective introduction, see examples, participate in some guided writing activities, and spend a short time developing our own pitches all during the session.
Finally, we will use the time designated for questions to practice introducing ourselves to other attendees, building confidence and hopefully meeting someone new.
Arts professionals are often asked, “What kind of work do you do?” Arts organizations are often asked “What does your organization do?” Community members are often asked “Tell me about your community.” In this session, we will prepare a dynamic answer to those questions.
Arts & Health Care Panel
Co-Moderators: Jennifer Dreibelbis, NAC and Rachel Mindrup, Creighton University
Panelists: Tami Buffalohead, Healing Ribbons, Founder; Ruth Davidson Hahn, Ruth
Davidson Hahn & Company; Troy Muller, New Century Art Guild, Executive Director,
Location: Beatrice Movie Theatre 1
Description:
We want to hear from you! How can Nebraska Arts Council impact arts and health efforts focusing on three priority areas: changing systems, training artists, and arts organizations and providing grant funds. You will hear from current and former NAC grant recipients about their arts and health programs to spur the conversation. What is happening in your area either geographically or specific programs related to arts and health?
Dreaming About Murals
Presenter: Richard Harrison, A Midsummer’s Mural
Location: Beatrice Move Theatre 2
Description:
Richard Harrison calls himself Chief Day Dreamer of A Midsummer’s Mural, and The South Omaha Mural Project. Somehow, he has managed to follow those dreams, with the help of many who have joined him, into creating 20 neighborhood murals, one community sculpture, and huge grain silo mural 120’ high and 240’ long. During this session, participants will view the film Called to Walls. Afterwards we will discuss what dreams others have and how they can bring them to fruition. Information provided will include specific techniques and materials Richards prefers when painting murals.
NOTE: This workshop is two sessions long.
Beatrice Creative District Walking Tour
Tour Guide: Morgan Fox, Main Street Beatrice
Location: Start at Vintage Venue
Explore the highlights of the Beatrice Creative District! Hear about how Beatrice’s creative manufacturing is shipped around the country, see their collection of murals, and learn how the process of becoming a creative district opened their eyes to how creative their community really is!
1:45 – 2:30 pm Breakout Session 2 (choose from one of the following)
Optimizing Your Attraction: Leveraging Visit Nebraska for Creative Success
Moderator: Jenn Gjerde, Visit Nebraska
Join Jenn Gjerde for an insightful session on how Visit Nebraska’s resources can drive success for creative districts and art initiatives. Learn to optimize your presence on VisitNebraska.com, maximize advertising opportunities and access grants. Discover how to leverage the Nebraska Passport program and tap into Visit Nebraska’s research. Jenn’s practical, no-nonsense approach will equip you with the tools to elevate your visibility and impact in Nebraska’s thriving arts scene. Don’t miss this chance to transform your creative vision into a community success!
How does AI Impact the Arts?
Moderator: Josh Brown, Nebraska Arts Council
Panelists: Sarah Osborn, English Lecturer at UNO
Reagan Pufall, Visual Artist, and Department Chair of Art at Iowa Western Community College
Location: Beatrice Move Theatre 1
Description:
You can’t open a news app without being inundated with articles and opinion pieces about how artificial intelligence will save or doom the world as we know it. What is the real impact that this technology is having on the arts? This panel features informed opinions from two arts educators who have used AI technology in their artistic and pedagogic practices.
Dreaming About Murals (cont’d)
Presenter: Richard Harrison, A Midsummer’s Mural
Location: Beatrice Movie Theatre 2
Description:
NOTE: This is a continuation from Session 1
Nebraska’s Creative Frontier: Pioneering Arts Sustainability in Your Community
Presenters: Becky Boesen, Nebraska Community Foundation
Jarrod McCartney, Red Cloud Heritage Tourism
Location: Tall Tree Tasting
Description:
Jump on board for an epic journey through Nebraska’s creative frontier and discover how to lead the charge towards arts sustainability in your community! From tapping into local talent to forging innovative partnerships, we’ll share inspiring tales from Nebraska communities that will inspire you to unleash the full potential of your local assets and diversify your arts funding. Whether you’re a seasoned arts enthusiast or a passionate newcomer, you have the power to pioneer your local arts scene into a vibrant future!
2:45 – 3:30 pm Breakout Session 3 (choose from one of the following)
Inclusive Spaces and Sensory Accessible Experiences
Presenter: Kelly Nielsen, Autism Action
Location: Vintage Venue
Description: It is estimated that 20% of the population is neurodivergent. Community venues do not always consider the needs of the neurodivergent community when thinking about accessibility. This session is for anyone interested in learning how to make their community spaces or offerings more accessible to individuals and families affected by autism and other neurodivergent conditions.
Attendees will learn about the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), how individuals with autism and their families experience community events and activities, and best practices for improving the experiences of patrons with ASD and their families
Deep Listening: Enhancing Your Skills, Fostering Creativity, and Cultivating Connection
Presenter: Stacey Barelos, University of Nebraska – Omaha
Location: Beatrice Movie Theatre 1
Description:
Discover the power of Deep Listening, a radically accessible practice introduced by composer Pauline Oliveros. This inclusive approach is open to everyone willing to explore something new. Rooted in attentive listening, Deep Listening also incorporates movement and creative exercises with sound.
During this session, we’ll delve into distinguishing between listening and hearing, refining our auditory perception while creating original soundscapes. It’s an opportunity to connect with our environment and unleash our creative potential in a fun and accessible way.
Video Campaigns for the Arts
Presenter: Matt Bross, ONPXL
Location: Beatrice Movie Theatre 2
Description:
Motion content is a key asset in today’s online advertising and social media environment. Led by Matt Bross—Director of Photography at ONPXL who has worked for over 20 years in developing multimedia content for the arts sector—this workshop will teach you techniques and ideas for creating video content for social media campaigns, broadcast commercials, immersive installations, and web content. Matt will discuss the process ONPXL used to create the NAC Creative Districts videos, as well as other motion-based projects for nonprofit arts organizations. The workshop will include tips on how to elevate and showcase your brand using readily accessible tools like phone cameras and editing apps. Matt will also answer your questions about the video production process as it relates to the nonprofit arts sector.
Arts For Life! Creative Aging Through the Arts
Presenters: Carolyn Albracht, Artist, Wayne State College professor
Anne Alston, Nebraska Arts Council
Location: Tall Tree Tasting Room
Description:
There is increasing national recognition of the value in providing opportunities for older adults to express their creativity, learn new skills, socialize, and contribute to their communities. Learn how NAC’s Creative Aging Arts Program (CAAP) is engaging older adults through the arts in far-flung corners of the state, while also addressing well-documented issues of isolation and loneliness that are experienced by many older adults across our nation. CAAP Teaching Artist and Wayne State College Associate Professor Carolyn Albracht will share her experiences as a CAAP teaching artist, and will discuss the impact of creative aging programming in rural communities.
4:30-6:30 pm optional break out session, additional cost $30
Create a Ceramic Garden Gnome
Presenter: Lauren Scheele
Location: Blush Ceramic Studio
Description:
Lauren Scheele, owner of Blush Ceramic Studio, will lead a workshop of ten registrants to hand-build a garden gnome using a pinch technique, which each registrant will be able to keep at the end of the workshop*. To reserve your spot, please register through the provided link directly through Blush Ceramic Studio: https://www.blushceramicstudio.com/book-online.
*If you live far away from Beatrice and can’t return to pick up the fired piece, Lauren Scheele offers shipping for $10.
Address – 620 Court Street
Physical accessibility – Entrances on the south and west sides of the building are accessible.
Technology & Wi-fi – Wi-fi is available at no cost. Use the VV Guest network. No password is required to access it. Access to power outlets will be limited so plan accordingly.
Food and Drink – This is our venue for lunch on Thursday and Friday. Sandwiches with chips and a cookie will be provided. See the sandwich choices below:
Veggie sandwich or wrap: hummus, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, peppers, Swiss cheese
Coffee and water will be provided during the registration on Thursday and Friday.
Parking – There is an accessible parking spot on the street in front of the venue. If would like to reserve this spot, call the accessibility contact by September 1st. Additional parking is available in the lot north of the venue.
Address – 615 Court St, Beatrice, NE 68310
Physical accessibility – The building and the theaters are accessible, but the curb cut is at the street corner. Some seats have been removed from the theaters to accommodate wheelchair users. The sessions will take place in the theaters and the seats are reclinable and are therefore very deep and low. The theaters are dark. Please do not hesitate to ask for help finding a seat that accommodates your needs.
Technology & Wi-fi – The theater does not have public wi-fi and outlets are very limited in the theaters. Please plan accordingly.
Food and Drink – Concessions will be available for purchase.
Parking – Accessible parking is available on the street but spots are limited. If you need an accessible parking space, please contact us before September 1st. The rest of the parking is also on the street, but this venue is close to Vintage Venue which has additional parking available.
Bathrooms – Bathrooms are accessible and near the theaters’ entrances. The accessible bathroom is to the right when entering from the street.
Address – 122 N 5th St, Beatrice, NE 68310
Physical accessibility – The accessible entrance is located on Ella Street on the north side of the building. There are some narrow areas in the spaces in this venue.
Technology & Wi-fi – Technology & Wi-fi – Wi-fi is available at no cost. Use the Kinetic_206076 network and the password 3zvpm2rxhf (all letters are lowercase in the password).
Food and Drink – Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Alcohol is served at this venue.
Parking – Accessible parking is available on the street but spots are limited. If you need an accessible parking space, please contact us before September 1st. All parking at this location is on the street.
Address – 301 Court St, Beatrice, NE 68310
Physical accessibility – The entrance on the east side is accessible via a ramp.
Technology & Wi-fi – Wi-fi is available at no cost. Use the Stone Hollow Guest network and use the password,” mummytrail”, all lowercase.
Food and Drink – The brewery does not serve food, but it can be ordered from nearby restaurants. Alcohol is served in this venue.
Parking – The brewery is located in the Mercantile Building. Accessible parking is available on the street but spots are limited. This venue is further from the others so plan on driving
Pottery activity – Thursday evening there will be a session entitled Create a Ceramic Mug in the Mercantile Building (the same building as Stone Hollow). The ceramic studio is located in the basement and is accessible via an elevator and ramp. The ceramic studio in the basement of the Mercantile Building.
Bathrooms – Bathrooms are accessible and near the activity area.
