Hestia Creations Celebrates 40 Years of Handcrafted Artistry in Marblehead Woman-owned giftware company marks four decades of custom ornaments, ceramics, and creative experiences Handcrafted Tradition Spans 40 Years on the North Shore Hestia Creations, a woman-owned leader in handcrafted custom giftware and home décor, is proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary. Founded by artist Linda MacDonald in 1986 and led since

Bakers Island Light’s Historic Fresnel Lens Returns Home After 50 Years Essex Heritage launches $20,000 campaign to conserve and display original lighthouse lens Historic Lighthouse Lens Comes Home to Salem The 4th Order Fresnel lens that once guided ships safely into the Port of Salem for decades has come home. On May 9, 2026, Essex National Heritage Commission, Inc. (Essex

From Stigma to Science: Rethinking Cannabis This 4/20 By Meghan Zaklin, MSN, FNP-BC, ECS Wellness. Every April 20, something interesting happens. People gather in parks, cities, campuses, and communities across the world. Some come to celebrate cannabis culture. Others come out of curiosity. Some are longtime marijuana enthusiasts, while others are simply wondering how a once-taboo plant became part of

Nobody Asked for Permission: Six Open Arts Calls in Essex County Nobody is waiting for society to catch up. Honestly, society should be taking notes. Essex County’s creative community is already at least six moves ahead. A mural is going up inside Salem State. A gender-affirming fashion show is casting its runway. An inaugural fashion show is building its roster

Mass Cultural Council 2026: Five Creative Collective Members Win Grants for Creative Individuals Essex County is showing up — and the Massachusetts Cultural Council noticed. We are beyond proud to celebrate five Creative Collective members named as Mass Cultural Council 2026 Grants for Creative Individuals recipients. These unrestricted $5,000 grants recognize Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners advancing creative

By John Andrews, Content Director, Creative Collective Salem’s 400th anniversary year is already packed with landmark moments. Now, one of the most ambitious celebrations yet is taking shape. Food at 400+, a 12-day culinary and cultural festival running June 11–22, 2026, will transform the city into a living timeline of food, community, and shared heritage. Produced by Salem Food Tours

The GRAYSCALE indie business summit Salem has been waiting for finally has a date. From March 31 through April 2, downtown Salem transforms into a three-day hub for creative entrepreneurs. Specifically, it’s built for indie business owners, artists, and makers who have always felt like outsiders at traditional business events. Amber Newberry and the Die With Your Boots On team

On February 24th, Creative Collective and Salem Rotary came together at The Hawthorne Hotel for The Mixer: A Collaborative Winter Celebration — and what started as a cocktail reception turned into something much bigger. Nearly 200 people packed the Grand Ballroom for an evening of food, music, photo experiences, and genuine community energy. But the heart of the night was

By John Andrews | Content Director, Creative Collective | February 2026 On Wednesday night, a group of us stood inside something historic. The Peabody Essex Museum opened its doors for a press and influencer preview of Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone — the first major retrospective devoted to a nineteenth-century sculptor who was told, in every way a society can tell someone, that