Creative Mingle: An Arts Networking Event

In partnership with the The Santa Fe Opera

Date and Time

Tuesday, July 16, 2019
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location

Santa Fe Opera

In March 2019 Creative Santa Fe hosted The Future of Art: A Disruptive Futures Dialogue. Program audiences were asked the question “What are some new projects we can initiate now to support our arts community?” Attendees identified over 220 ideas in response, – the majority addressing the need for more arts networking opportunities in Santa Fe. Creative Santa Fe responded to this finding with the Creative Mingle: An Arts Networking Event program which took place Tuesday, July 16th in partnership with the Santa Fe Opera.

Creative Mingle guests brought picnic dinners to the Dapples Pavilion and and shared a memorable evening of conversation, networking Bingo, a photobooth, and delicious refreshments. Our guest presenter Elizabeth Kunz led an activity exploring the Hero’s Journey and how it relates to the arts community in Santa Fe. Afterwards attendees enjoyed a free dress rehearsal performance of Jenůfa at the Santa Fe Opera.

So far, attendees have reported an average of 6 new connections per person were made throughout the evening. Guests have so far reported that they learned how to wrangle a rattlesnake, received multiple job offers, found studio space for their art, multiple organizations found new partners to work with, and so many new friendships were formed. Based on the outstanding success of the event, we are currently collaborating with new partners who have expressed interested in hosting their own Creative Mingle events in the near future, including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Stay tuned as we announce the next arts networking events we are partnering to build in an effort to bridge the many incredible talents in the Santa Fe arts community.

"The wonderful hosted activities were so helpful for someone like me who doesn't exactly *love* networking. Perfect environment for all working creatives!"

-Ellen Humphreys

"From the very get go, the event was engaging. There were icebreaker activities to help engage people to get up and meet new people. I found the event very inspiring, because of the vast amount of energy and creativity of the people and organizers."

-S.S.

"The mingle was held in a fabulous venue, had interesting presentations, and was a terrific opportunity to meet new people both professionally and personally. I particularly enjoyed the wide range of Santa Feans attending the event"

-Nicholas King

"I had such a great evening at the Creative Santa Fe event at the Opera, meeting new people and making worthwhile connections in the field of creativity. I hope to make it to future events to reconnect and establish a good network of like minded folk."

-Francesca Yorke

"Very creative the bingo and access to a rehearsal. It was really creative, I loved it...."

-Mary Walker

"The Creative Mingle was a great way to meet new colleagues and to reconnect with others. The low pressure, playful, and conversational structure was great."

-Merry Scully

"Creative Santa Fe Mingles are a great way to have some fun, connect with new people, and explore the great wealth of Santa Fe's creative community."

-Moira Gehrig

"This was my first but won't be my last. I can't believe it was free (and would happily pay a small registration fee to attend)."

-Victoria Brown

"Great networking event and got to see an awesome Opera to boot!"

-Sarah Miller

"It was a lot of fun, and I think the BINGO game, in particular, got a lot of us up out of our chairs and mingling like mad. I saw nary a cellphone in the entire group."

-Melinda Silver

"Such an original event! It was lively and fun. I met someone with coastal expertise in marketing and branding -- a great contact for our nonprofit!"

-- A.

"You could feel the creative energy in the air, thanks to Creative Santa Fe’s union with the Santa Fe Opera. It was the perfect atmosphere to bring together Santa Fe’s collective of exceptional creative minds. The blissful rain misting over the Jemez, combined with the elegantly crafted event, led to an evening where opportunities abounded, great friends reunited and new ideas flourished. To top it off, the treat of experiencing the phenomenal Santa Fe Opera. Thanks to everyone involved! I can’t wait for the next one!”"

-- A.

"As in the words of Buckminster Fuller "how often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else" ... enter the next creative mix & mingle!"

-- April Dolkar

"Creative Santa Fe is living up to their mission by providing opportunities to network, learn and share. This is a valuable dialogue that can result in meaningful change for the city."

-- Curt Doty