Some call it a networking event. Some call it a retreat. Some even go so far as to call it “church for creatives.” If there is one thing for sure, it’s that CreativeMornings Chattanooga encompasses all of that and more.
Individuals from all over Chattanooga trickle into local venues, like the Edney Innovation Center, The Signal, and Wanderlinger Brewing Company, in the early hours of the morning on the last Friday of every month. Though the location changes each time, there are few things that remain constant: the donuts, Plus Coffee, and conversation.
When people enter the venue, they are greeted cheerfully by a table of volunteers and prompted to fill out a name tag, but not just any old name tag— one with an ice breaker question that varies month-by-month as well. People smile as they ponder their answers to questions like, “What superpower would you like to have?” or “Where would you not mind getting lost?”
CreativeMornings is a global nonprofit organization that started in 2008 in New York with the intention of promoting creative talent and cultivating communities of creators. There are 211 cities across six continents that dedicate one morning every month to sharing breakfast and conversation with fellow makers, completely free of charge. These events are hosted and run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about the value of connections and continuous learning.
Chattanooga became a chapter of CreativeMornings in 2016. Many who call Chattanooga home recognize that it is brimming with artistic and creative energy, with the Chattanooga Public Library’s recent development of the Makerspace and numerous galleries and music halls popping up around town. CreativeMornings Chattanooga embodies that energy as dozens of creatives gather to meet and mingle with people in similar spaces.
Attendees come from all types of industries. Some are freelancers, some work for creative agencies, some are artists, and some are coders. Some are even traditional nine to five corporate workers who have creative passions. CreativeMornings serves as a space for creatives to feel a sense of belonging in a widespread community, no matter if their work actually overlaps.
Emily Highsmith (‘20), an Art major with a concentration in design, attended a handful of events in 2019. She said, “If you’re a student and trying to get into the creative field, it’s a must-go. It’d be a great opportunity to get to know other creatives as it brings them together on a regular basis”
Highsmith’s favorite part is the twenty-minute talk each event is framed around. Each month, CreativeMornings HQ chooses a theme that every chapter around the world must recruit a community member to present on. “Wonder,” “Justice,” “Muse,” and “Lost” are some of the themes that were presented last year.
The first CreativeMornings of 2020 takes place on January 31st from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. and the theme is “Roots.” The location and speaker have yet to be announced (they typically release the venue and speaker a few days prior to the event), but signing up for their newsletter at https://creativemornings.com/cities/cha or following them on Instagram @chattanooga_cm will notify potential attendees with the details.