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Joining the Creative Community

by Giulian LaScala | October 3, 2017

"There have always been creative and artistic people and events in Mesa’s Downtown. We believe that to build the community we want, we must actively pursue, support and make happen those things that support the future our of city. Whether we’re attending a show at the Mesa Arts Center or the Nile, a gallery opening in someone’s backyard, or having a drink and some great food from a local restaurant, we know that if we want a community that values creativity and the arts, we must show our support." 

Welcome to downtown Mesa, the heart of the East Valley arts scene! Artists and art-lovers from all over the Valley come to experience the wonderful creativity that this district has to offer, from galleries and studios to coffee shops lined with local art. Despite the bevy of artistic opportunities, many Valley residents find it hard to believe that Mesa is more than its downtown businesses. In order to maintain this creative oasis, people are banding together to show their support, and they call themselves Creative Catalysts.

An initiative of Mesa Arts Center, Creative Catalysts are a group of artists, designers, entrepreneurs, art enthusiasts, and art advocates that seek to promote any and all creative endeavors in downtown Mesa. The group hosts several events each month, ranging from poetry nights and art workshops to Easy Like Saturday Morning Brunch. As a bonus, these events are held at some of the best local spots in the city! Aside from their own events, members of the group are constantly promoting other creative opportunities to get the community involved.  

After spending some time navigating their various social media accounts, it's clear that Creative Catalysts are achieving their goal of creating a community. Earlier this month, local artist Jacob Stephen Bush needed help setting up his art performance piece. Not only did he get help from his fellow CC members, many took note of the performance and drove down to support him! 

It's truly inspiring to see a group of people come together to create a community and advocate for art this way. Downtown Mesa is lucky to have them, and I applaud their efforts to keep art alive! If you are interested in joining Creative Catalysts (and I hope you are!), you can visit https://www.mesaartscenter.com/creativecatalysts and share your information. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram @creativecatalystsaz 

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