Three Reasons You Should Build a Creative Community

Written By Stephanie Broder

One of my favourite parts of being an art student was being surrounded by fellow creatives every day I was on campus.

Classmates, technicians, instructors - we were all creative people doing creative things. I miss the ease with which that creative community came together, but it’s not impossible to make your OWN creative community! Here are three reasons it may be a good idea to try:

  1. Motivation

Working on your projects around other creatives is a great way to give yourself motivation. This is especially true if you have set meeting days! You’ll have a sense of a deadline if you want to create work before the next meet-up. When you are gathered, having everyone work together is an excellent way to juice up those creative vibes and inspire you to work harder.

2. Inspiration

When you feel creatively stuck, bouncing ideas off other creatives is a good way to get inspiration. Every time I meet up with my creative group, I also leave with new books, comics, games, and resources to check out. It’s amazing how much useful information is casually shared in a creative meet-up! You will find something new to pursue amongst all that creative brain power.

3. Support

Maybe you need an accountability partner to help you finish a project or some sympathetic ears to help you recover from a publisher’s rejection. Creatives get it, and a good creative community wants to see you succeed. Sharing our successes, failures and learning opportunities is a great way to create a culture of mutual growth and care. This is so valuable in the arts, which can be a bit of a loner industry!

There are plenty of pre-existing creative communities you can likely find in your area, but if you’re feeling brave, why not post on Reddit, Meet-Up or something similar? Check out events at local libraries, community centres, and maker spaces.

Or, if you are in the Metro Vancouver area, you are welcome to email or Instagram DM me for details on joining my Creatives Meet-Up group.

Good luck, and have fun!

Stephanie Broder
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