How This Conference Dedicated to Creatives of Color Expanded Its Reach Beyond NYC

ATLANTA—In May, The Creative Collective NYC, a community dedicated to curating spaces for creatives of color, kicked off its three-city tour of CultureCon in Atlanta.

Started in 2017, the conference brings together creative types, influencers, and entrepreneurs for panel discussions, workshops, and activations covering a mix of business, politics, entertainment, and pop culture. What started as a one-day gathering in New York City has now expanded, with events also taking place in Atlanta and Los Angeles, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The six-day CultureCon ATL event, which happened from May 2-7 at a space located on Windsor Street, featured smaller activations leading up to the conference that boasted day-of programming from brand partners, including presenting sponsor HBO Max, Twitter, Netflix, Foot Locker, and Pinterest, as well as discussions with Jay Ellis, Stacey Abrams, Kandi Burruss, Saucy Santana, and Jayda Cheaves.

Linkedin hosted a headshot station where guests were able to update their online profile.Photo: Courtesy of CultureCon“CultureCon has always been about celebrating our community—wherever they may be. After seeing so much traction for CultureCon building in cities across the country (and around the world), we decided to take CultureCon on the road for our first-ever tour, so that we could meet our community in their hometowns,” The Creative Collective NYC founder Imani Ellis said about the event’s growth. “Whether building a business or building a life, we’re on a mission to champion and empower creatives of color everywhere.”

Stacey Abrams chatted on stage about the power of politics and how it can make lives better.Photo: Courtesy of CultureConNext up is the CultureCon Pop-Up in Los Angeles, which will run from June 16-18, followed by the New York event, which will take place October 3-8. Tickets to select CultureCon Pop-Up: LA events are free, but limited on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In terms of programming, Ellis said that the team wants “to stay true to the ethos of each city and really lean into the personality of Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City. In Atlanta, we focused on entrepreneurship and cultural impact. In LA, we’re leaning into community and entertainment, and New York City will bring all aspects of culture, community, and collaboration together for the ultimate creative homecoming.”

Guests who aren’t able to attend the conferences in person can tune into CultureCon @Home, the group’s video-on-demand replay platform. Launched during the pandemic, CultureCon @Home is a virtual campus that has reached creatives in over 131 countries, along with Creative Curriculum, a series of digital masterclasses that cover topics ranging from entrepreneurship to navigating the corporate world.

When asked about expanding to even more cities, Ellis added, “Never say never!”

Jay Ellis spoke on stage about his role in the new movie Top Gun: Maverick.Photo: Courtesy of CultureCon

Presenting sponsor HBO Max hosted an on-site activation promoting its "Scene in Black" initiative, which spotlights perspectives from different communities.Photo: Courtesy of CultureCon

Built in partnership with design and experience agency Jam3 and Beyond 8, CultureCon @Home brought the conference to the virtual world. Mirroring an IRL conference campus with stages presenting live talks, a chat function, and virtual shops, at-home attendees were able to explore the content in a digital space.Screenshot: Courtesy of CultureCon