FutureJam: The People's Say in Vermont's Creative Future

Picture this: it’s ten years from now, and Vermont’s creative arts scene is booming. There is more live music than ever before, more local creativity than you could imagine, and a bustling creative economy. What do you envision for Vermont’s creative future? And how can we make it happen? Share your ideas and inspirations at FutureJam, the Vermont Creative Network’s first-ever statewide brainstorm for the future of Vermont’s creative sector.

FutureJam is a day-long visioning event conducted entirely over Zoom on Tuesday, October 6. To participate, drop in to one of the day’s four online “jam sessions” designed for the Vermont public to “describe and shape a vision for Vermont’s creative sector.” These relaxed online meetings will be an opportunity for creatives, community members, and crafters to come together and share their ideas for Vermont’s creative future. You can riff on your ideas and share thoughts directly with other Vermont creatives while getting and giving feedback. 

Each session will include creative prompts, small-group conversations, live polling, and quick report-backs. All of the sessions are the same, so feel free to drop into whichever one is best for you to start sharing your ideas. Zoom meetings will be held at 

8:00 am

11:30 am (closed captioning)

4:00 pm

7:00 pm

You can register for this event online. If you want to participate in this event but can’t be present for any of the Zoom meetings, you can watch for updates on the Vermont Creative Network’s website or public Facebook group. They will send live surveys and prompts, so tune in anytime during this event. There will be plenty of opportunities to weigh in with your opinions online!

There will not be recordings of this event after it is finished, so if you want to participate, be sure to register and be present. You can also watch for updates leading up to the event on the Vermont Creative Network’s website and facebook group, where you can ask questions, get advice, share work, and connect with peers. 

After this event, you can watch for a follow-up series of IdeaJams to discuss action plans for achieving goals within zones and sectors of Vermont. The sector meetings will take place on Tuesday, October 27; the zone meetings on Tuesday, November 17; and the statewide meeting on Tuesday, December 1. On December 15, a Jamboree event will be held to catalyze the next steps and celebrate creativity. Registration for this event will be available online later in October.

Questions regarding accessibility should be addressed to Michele Bailey, 504/ADA Coordinator, Vermont Arts Council, by way of mbailey@vermontartscouncil.org. Closed captioning will be available for the 11:30 am Zoom session of FutureJam, but if you request accommodations, the Vermont Arts Council will make every effort to provide them. 

Subscribe to Vermont Creative Network news for more information, updates, and opportunities within the Vermont creative sector. This is an opportunity to have a direct and meaningful say in the future of your community. Make sure you register online and tune into the website for new information! Vermont can’t wait to hear your ideas.

Text by Kaitlyn Paszkiewicz