CreateHere works with one guiding principle in mind: we love our city for what it is, has been and could become.
But loving a city is no small task.
Luckily, we’re equipped with a collective of programs, organized by people hungry for progress. CreateHere is working to build Chattanooga’s cultural economy through arts, economic and cultural development initiatives.
We’re a non-profit based in Chattanooga, formed in 2007 as an experiment in harnessing the economic potential of creative individuals. Our programs have cultivated and engaged innovators, attracting and retaining some of the city’s brightest minds. Our workspace on Chattanooga’s burgeoning Southside is a meeting place for a diverse community of creative agents.
The question remains, how do you love a city? And what does it mean to work for sustainable progress where you live?
For us, it means pairing artisanal beer with Chattanooga’s leading operatic voices, and inviting 150 of our neighbors to enjoy a show unlike any they’ve seen before.
It means introducing soap makers to graphic designers, and offering them both targeted business insight in an 8-week business planning course.
It means providing over $300,000 in artists grants to area creatives, in the midst of a recession, and encouraging their continued economic ventures through sustainability sessions.
It means attracting talented working artists to homes in Chattanooga, and offering them a showcase space in our constantly evolving gallery.
It means asking every Chattanoogan what they want for our city.
How do we make it all happen?
A team of fellows that is hopeful and helpful.
LeadHere is a fellowship program that actively engages emerging leaders in community life. Applicants must be passionate about enabling and equipping others and helping big vision become reality. Hard working and highly motivated, hopeful and helpful.
Active engagement in growing communities. Vision + action, hopeful + helpful.
LeadHere is a highly competitive fellowship program that builds experience, confidence and connections for our next generation of community leaders.
Gathered from cities across the world, from a variety of educational and experience backgrounds, LeadHere Fellows are a key engine for driving CreateHere’s initiatives forward.
Through the fellowship program, Fellows serve in a creative, ambitious and fast-paced working environment including end-to-end project management experience that will propel them into the creative workforce. They also participate in leadership-training opportunities to more deeply connect with the community and civic responsibility. Chattanooga’s best and brightest combine their talent, ideas and energy to make a long-term impact on society starting now.
What does a fellowship look like? Download a LeadHere Flyer [PDF].
The LeadHere Fellowship program interviews on an as-needed, rolling basis as current fellows rotate out. Email your resume and writing samples to alison@createhere.org to get started!
