FS25

Indi­vid­u­als play a vital role in defin­ing the char­ac­ter of a place through their personal expe­ri­ences and engage­ment with it, but place also matters and reci­p­ro­cally impacts the maker. As makers engage with their local commu­ni­ties, they influ­ence and foster a sense of belong­ing and contribute to economic devel­op­ment. Thereby helping to build stronger, more vibrant commu­ni­ties that contribute to the economic health of our neigh­bor­hoods, cities, and towns. 

How have makers influ­enced their commu­ni­ties through their work? How have the loca­tion and char­ac­ter­is­tics of a place inspired and shaped creativ­ity? What is the role of commu­nity in foster­ing creativ­ity and supporting makers?

Key themes:

• Indi­vid­ual Impact: How makers influ­ence their commu­ni­ties and the world through their work

• Place Impact: How the loca­tion and char­ac­ter­is­tics of a place inspire and shape creative endeavors

• Reci­p­ro­cal Rela­tion­ship: The inter­de­pen­dent nature of makers and their places, where each influ­ences the other

• Commu­nity Influ­ence: The ways in which commu­ni­ties can support, inspire, and challenge makers.

• Place as Inspi­ra­tion: How the unique qual­i­ties of a place can inspire and inform creative work