This year, Josh Horton is bringing Creative Works East to Brooklyn’s Industry City from October 24–26. I agreed to speak at the event because I believe in Horton’s work (and empathize with the effort that goes into making a viable conference).
Horton founded Creative Works in 2014 to show his hometown of Memphis the vast possibilities within creative work and careers. “For too long, our creative community had been undervalued, uninspired and stuck in a predictable world of kitsch Southern-fried graphic design,” he told me.
Nikkolas Smith at Creative Works and Cornish host day two of Creative Works West in Seattle, WA, on April 26, 2024.
“As our network expanded, I began to see the profound impact creatives have on both culture and the economy,” he added as he detailed the collaborative effort with community leaders to raise funds for a two-year program aimed at pushing the local narrative beyond the tropes of Elvis, blues and barbecue. “We wanted to empower and showcase the real diverse creative potential of our city.”
After hosting over 50 events and nine annual conferences, Horton and his cohorts realized this wasn’t just a Memphis problem. “Creatives across the country—from post-industrial cities to cultural hubs—shared the same frustrations. So, we took the Creative Works Conference on the road, meeting our community where they live, work and create.”
Marian Bantjes, Nikkolas Smith, Amos Kennedy, Nishat Akhtar, Jessica Hische — Michael Ellsworth, moderator, at Creative Works West in Seattle, WA, on April 26, 20
Now, with Creative Works West in Seattle and East in New York City, his goal is to empower creatives in a world where the promise of AI and corporate demands often stifle inventive output. “In times like these,” he says, “we know it’s easy for the spirit to feel broken, and it’s hard for a broken spirit to create compelling work. But when you’re surrounded by a supportive community, you realize that you’re not alone and you can be inspired to innovate and create work that moves.”
Paula Scher at Creative Works West in Seattle, WA, on April 26, 2024.
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