THREADS

Building the Creative Economy

Session 1:

“What Is the Creative Economy?”
Defining Its Parts, Purpose & Potential

Session Description

What could a reimagined, equitable creative economy actually look like?

The term “creative economy” gets used across sectors—from tech startups to nonprofit arts—but what does it actually mean? Who is part of it? Who benefits? And how do we ensure that artists, cultural workers, and community-based creators are at its center?

In this inaugural session of THREADS, we’ll unpack the definition of the creative economy, explore its interconnected sectors, and discuss how it functions within—and often despite—larger economic systems. Together, we’ll begin to build a shared language and strategy for what a sustainable, equitable creative economy could look like in Oakland and beyond.

Key Questions to Explore

• What do we mean by creative economy?

• Who makes up the creative economy? (Think: artists, designers, performers, craftspeople, cultural workers, educators, organizers, etc.)

• What roles do public institutions, philanthropy, and private industry play?

• How is creative labor valued—or undervalued—within economic systems?

• What are the current barriers to sustainability for artists and cultural workers in Oakland?
  
  

GROUNDED IN FORM

Grounded in Form is an invitation to connect deeply with material, land, and each other to explore the social, environmental, and emotional dimensions of form. We are building a team of artists to explore art as activism and deep collaborative exchange and learning. Through this work, we elevate the voices of diverse artists and creative leaders to harness art and creativity as tools for personal, social and cultural transformation—cultivating a more unified, empathetic, and just society. We will simultaneously be creating a model for collective and inclusive problem solving where all voices are heard and represented and where all backgrounds and identities are respected as part of the solutions we create together.

Artists will walk away with:

• New relationships across disciplines and communities

• Expanded skills in 3-dimensional art making and collaborative thinking

• Opportunities to create public work grounded in social, political and ecological awareness

• A strengthened sense of how form can be a tool for cultural storytelling and transformation

ORIGIN

A Gathering for Artists, Innovators, and Social Change Leaders

Origin is a catalytic intersection of artists, cultural strategists, and movement leaders who believe in the transformative power of art and creativity as tools for social change.

This is a space for producing relationships, strategy, and shared vision. Over the course of a powerful weekend, we’ll come together to strengthen our connections, deepen our collaborative practice, and generate actionable strategies that amplify our collective impact.

Why Gather?

• To build meaningful relationships that expand the potential of cross-disciplinary collaboration.

• To develop strategies for working more effectively across difference, geography, and practice.

To amplify impact through shared knowledge, creativity, and coordinated action.

Together, we’ll explore how creative thinking and cultural work can reshape systems and inspire new models for living, leading, and organizing.