People, places, events, and ideas shaping Essex County—reported and shared by Creative Collective. Search the archive or start with a story path below.

May 22, 2026
Featured image for “The Radical Power of Gathering”
Creative Advocacy Series

The Radical Power of Gathering

by John Andrews
Why simply Showing Up Is The Best Thing We Can Do The average American now spends 35 minutes a day socializing in person. Not 35 minutes with friends, specifically — 35 minutes with another human being, in a shared room, breathing the same air. That number is down from 38 minutes in 2019, and it never recovered after the pandemic
May 22, 2026
April 23, 2026
Featured image for “Stop Building Walls Between Arts, Culture, and Tourism. Beverly Is Showing Us How.”
Arts and Culture Advocacy Series
Beverly

Stop Building Walls Between Arts, Culture, and Tourism. Beverly Is Showing Us How.

by John Andrews
Arts and culture aren’t separate from tourism. Tourism isn’t separate from arts and culture. They are integrated, and in Massachusetts communities like Beverly, that integration is driving real economic growth – more visitors, more spending, more jobs, and a stronger local identity. I’ve been saying this for years. A few weeks ago, I got to make that case on stage
April 23, 2026
March 7, 2026
Featured image for “GRAYSCALE Indie Business Summit Takes Over Downtown Salem”
Creative Collective Member
Creative Collective Member Events

GRAYSCALE Indie Business Summit Takes Over Downtown Salem

by John Andrews
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
March 7, 2026
February 14, 2026
Featured image for “Salem’s So Sweet Friday Night Kickoff 2026 Photos”
PHOTOS
Salem

Salem’s So Sweet Friday Night Kickoff 2026 Photos

by John Andrews
The Salem’s So Sweet festival kicked off on Friday night with a magical evening in downtown Salem, MA. Despite the cold and snow, the streets came alive with illuminated ice sculptures glowing in pink, blue, and purple lights, live saxophone music from Chagall PAC, and a warm kickoff event hosted by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Local artisans showcased their
February 14, 2026
February 9, 2026
Featured image for “Bad Bunny Didn’t Translate. He Didn’t Have To. Creative Non-Compliance 101”
Creative Economy
Creative Identities

Bad Bunny Didn’t Translate. He Didn’t Have To. Creative Non-Compliance 101

by John Andrews
Author: John, Founder & Executive Director, Creative Collective I need to talk about what happened while watching the Super Bowl Halftime this year. (I had some feelings about last year, too!) This one got me all up in my feels.  If you watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, you saw more than a spectacle. The cameos and choreography amazed,
February 9, 2026
January 28, 2026
Featured image for “Lived Experience Leadership with Shantel Alix Fernandez”
Creative Collective Member
Creative Connections Podcast

Lived Experience Leadership with Shantel Alix Fernandez

by The Dot Connector
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local economies
January 28, 2026
January 16, 2026
Featured image for “Big Feelings, Real Anger, and Why These Moments Matter”
Beverly
Creative Collective Events

Big Feelings, Real Anger, and Why These Moments Matter

by John Andrews
On Thursday morning, over 100 small business owners, nonprofit leaders, artists, and community builders packed into the basement of The Bower in Beverly. What started as a simple gathering became something much bigger. A room full of people chose connection over isolation, community over fear, and each other over going it alone. Honestly? We needed it. Why Does the Essex
January 16, 2026
January 12, 2026
Featured image for “Community-Centered Leadership with Alyssa Conary”
Collective Conversations
Creative Connections Podcast

Community-Centered Leadership with Alyssa Conary

by The Dot Connector
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local economies
January 12, 2026
December 31, 2025
Featured image for “Why Creative Collective Stands with MASSCreative: Creative Non-Compliance for 2026”
Creative Advocacy Series
Creative Economy

Why Creative Collective Stands with MASSCreative: Creative Non-Compliance for 2026

by John Andrews
  You might not even realize it’s happening! The mural you pass on your way to work. The live music drifting out of your favorite restaurant on a Thursday night. The handmade sign in the coffee shop window. The photographer who captured your kid’s first birthday. The designer who made your business feel real when they handed you that logo.
December 31, 2025
December 23, 2025
Featured image for “How One Hat Inspired Handmade Crochet Accessories for Julianna Donovan”
Creative Collective Member
Creative Connections Podcast

How One Hat Inspired Handmade Crochet Accessories for Julianna Donovan

by The Dot Connector
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki L. Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local
December 23, 2025