APPLY TO LEAD A WORKSHOP AT THE 2026 SUMMIT
Margo Saulnier, Director of Creative Strategies at New Bedford Creative, leads a session at the 2025 Creative Sector Summit. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
APPLICANTS OF ALL AGES, ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, ORGANIZING BACKGROUNDS, AND PROFESSIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BY FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026 AT 11:59 PM.
We’re proud to bring the third annual Creative Sector Summit to the Zeiterion in New Bedford on Friday, June 12, 2026. This annual convening will feature expert panels, policy discussions, workshops, and case studies to support increased activism, advocacy, and civic engagement led by the creative sector in Massachusetts.
THEME & LEARNING TRACKS
The theme of this year’s Summit is “Art, Culture and Creativity as Civic Infrastructure.” We are seeking session proposals that support one or more of the following Summit tracks and relate back to the conference theme:
Creative Placekeeping and Public Art: Using art and cultural expression to shape, activate, and sustain meaningful community spaces
Creative Economy and Workforce Development: Advancing strategies that support artists and creative workers as essential to thriving local economies
Arts, Humanities, and Civic Health: Leverage creative practice to build belonging, bridge divides, and strengthen community well-being
Cross-Sector Integration: Embedding art, culture, and creativity across sectors
SESSION FORMATTING
MASSCreative is seeking session proposals that support one or more of these tracks, as well as support innovation, ideation, and collaboration to build greater solidarity and political power within the creative sector. Eligible sessions will need to be designed and formatted as one of the following options:
Case Studies / Deep Dives: A focused look at a single project or initiative: what worked, what didn’t, and what others can replicate or adapt.
Panel Discussions: Hear from practitioners and leaders who have designed and implemented real-world strategies aligned with each Summit track, with time for audience Q&A and shared learning.
Participatory Art Making / Creative Engagement: Design a participatory art making activity that attendees can take advantage of during the lunch break.
Policy Incubator: Interactive sessions that break down policy and program wins step by step. Participants leave with the tactics and tools needed to advocate for, pass, and implement policies that support the creative sector.
Workshops & Technical Assistance: Hands-on, facilitated sessions where participants actively develop, refine, or troubleshoot their own projects, policies, or strategies with expert guidance.
All sessions are scheduled to last 60 minutes.
PRESENTER STIPENDS
Proposals will be reviewed by MASSCreative staff and members of the Summit host committee. Selected session leaders will receive stipends for their travel and expertise, in addition to complimentary tickets to the Summit. Leaders will be compensated as follows:
Panelists: $100 honorarium and complimentary registration to the Summit, with a limit of 3 panelists (not including the moderator).
Panel Moderators: $200 honorarium and complimentary registration to the Summit.
Participatory Art Making / Creative Engagement: $400 stipend and complimentary registration to the Summit.
Workshop Leaders / Presenters: $300 honorarium and complimentary registration to the Summit. If the proposal submitted is for co-presenters, an additional $150 will be added to the honorarium. We can support workshops with up to 3 co-presenters.
Only one stipend will be administered per workshop or session. If more than one presenter leads the workshop, it will be up to the workshop’s primary contact identified in the application to ensure that all of the co-presenters are paid.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
Applications Open: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Submission Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Notices sent about application status: Friday, April 17, 2026
Selected presenters’ deadline to accept offer: Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Public Announcement of sessions and session leaders: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
