By Ariyana Griffin,
Special to the AFRO
The Creative Collective NYC’s highly anticipated conference, CultureCon, is making its way to New York Oct. 7-8. The two-day event is the last to close out the year; in previous months it was hosted in Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Billed as the “Biggest Creative Homecoming,” the annual event is the place to be for Black creators and artists looking to network, build a community with other creatives, show off their fashion flair, be inspired and learn.
“When I was dreaming of CultureCon, it really was because I didn’t see it in the world. And I just thought, ‘How can there be so many spaces and yet none of them truly represent the world that I see, the talent that I see, the collaboration that I see?’” said Imani Ellis, founder and CEO of CultureCon in the mini-documentary, “Culture Con: The Next Chapter.”
“It’s high time that creatives of color have a space where they feel welcomed, where they feel they can be themselves, where they feel they can be heard and seen,” said Michael Oloyede, digital strategy lead for CultureCon.
Each year, panelists such as entertainers Tracie Ellis Ross, Nicole Ari Parker and Jay Ellis grace the stage to have meaningful conversations about the entertainment industry, their creative processes, mental health and so much more.
In the upcoming conference, attendees can expect to hear from artists such as Tinashe, Teyana Taylor and Lola Brooke as well as media personalities, entrepreneurs and media pioneers. A contingent of social media influencers also will be in the building, including Aaliyah Jay, De’arra Taylor and Deandre Brown.
CultureCon is so much more than just sit-down conversations with favorite celebrities or influencers, though, there will be many workshops and activities to motivate and inspire the next generation of creatives while providing them with resources and tools to do so.
There will be a job fair where people can network and connect with recruiters and possibly land a job in their dream profession. Workshops on various topics such as how to build a team, marketing and other business essentials will be provided throughout the weekend.
CultureCon is presented in partnership with Max, the streaming service. Other major partners include American Express, SheaMoisture, Prime Video and Freevee, Clinique, Google, CÎROC, Bulleit, Seedlip, Patreon, Paramount, Kickstarter, NBCUniversal, Spotify, Walmart, Tubi, Adidas, Ben & Jerry’s, Coca-Cola, Smart Water and more.
To learn more about CultureCon you can follow them on Instagram @Culturecon or visit their website, https://theccnyc.com.
