The Cultural Coalition hosts its third biennial arts and cultural conference, THRIVE! 2022, at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 8:30am to 3:30pm. More than 20 guest speakers & panelists will be featured. Tickets to THRIVE! 2022 are available now and a new “Pay What You Can Afford” option is available for single tickets and for organizations/businesses that would like to send more than one representative. (Ticket sales close November 29.)
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have worked with the Cultural Coalition to co-create this event centered on a theme of "Healing." Through partnership and collaboration, the conference highlights stories and issues from the arts and cultural community, and will catalyze challenging conversations in this era of pandemics, racial & social justice, and equity.
Cultural Coalition Executive Director, Wendy Bury notes, "We are thrilled to once again gather eastern Connecticut's arts and cultural community to share, learn and celebrate! To encourage individual artists and whole teams to attend together, we have reduced the cost barrier by offering flexible payment options, thanks to generous support from CT Humanities and our event sponsors.”
Attendees will be welcomed to the event with an optional Smudge Ceremony, an indigenous ritual used to purify, spiritually cleanse, rid physical spaces of negative energy, and bless participants. Registration and "Coffee & Connections" with staffed Resource Tables and Attendee Info Swap follow. “The Indigenous Peoples Project: The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Women” exhibit is open all day and a Gallery Talk with Angel Smith is offered prior to the opening session.
Following a brief welcome, Joshua Carter, Executive Director of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, shares the stage with tribal representatives to provide insights into "What Healing Means From The Northeastern Woodland Culture Perspective." Attendees next choose one of three Breakout Sessions: "Pandemic Learning Lessons," "Arts & Racial/Social Justice," or "Best Practices for Artist Self-Advocacy and Healthy Partnerships." Returning to the Auditorium, attendees will hear from a panel discussing "Building Local & Municipal Support for the Creative Economy," moderated by Liz Shapiro, Director of Arts, Preservation and Museums/CT Department of Economic & Community Development and several economic development professionals from across the region, including from New London, Stonington, Mansfield, Groton and Norwich.
A lunch buffet in the museum's Gathering Space provides time for community building and conversational activities. Attendees may also visit staffed Resource Tables and pick up materials at the Attendee Info Swap before gathering in the Auditorium for the afternoon sessions.
Representatives from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center will preview their new Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Workshops, presenting four learning components from a Native American perspective. The afternoon panel discussion focuses on "Cultural Community Building & Healing." The event concludes with a performance by State Troubadour, Kala Farnham, and closing comments.
Wendy Bury adds, "We are changing the paradigm of a 'keynote speaker' as well as changing our event model from simply having a conference venue to building an authentic partnership and sharing the stage with our hosts for an infusion of Native American culture. We are deeply grateful to our tribal partners for embracing and co-creating this event. By highlighting the lived experiences of more than twenty speakers from our northeast and southeast regions, THRIVE! 2022 will be an inspiring day of healing for our community.
For more event information, including schedule, presenters and ticketing, visit www.CultureSECT.org ( http://culturesect.org/thrive-2022-event-mainpage/ ).
Original source can be found here.
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