*Note: This article was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 6/16/2020
Businesses and other public spaces are slowly opening-up, but as we navigate the world during this ongoing pandemic, many of us are still steering clear of crowded spaces for the safety of our communities, families, and self.
It can be easy to feel disconnected from your creative communities when the standard ways to connect like gallery openings, open studios, and other in-person art-centric events are no longer feasible. So much creative work benefits and grows from collaborating, sharing, and face-to-face communication.
So how do you stay connected to other creatives in a time when we’re all reimagining how to be together physically?
Thankfully, folks are getting (and have been) creative in how they…stay creative!
In this post, we’ll share resources and ideas for how you can remotely connect with your creative community while staying home.
Talks Centered Around Creativity
Conferences are most likely not going to go on as planned, or at least in the same fashion, for a while. If you’re missing learning from industry expert keynote speakers, there’s an abundance of content online to satiate that need. Chances are, your favorite creative conference has archived speeches from previous events, but there’s also tons of creativity-specific TED Talks, as well a frequently updated content from Creative Mornings.
Creativity Podcasts
In addition to their more formal talks, Creative Mornings also hosts a podcast that will be sure to keep you up to date on all things creative. In general, podcasts are a great way to inject a bit of creative conversation into your everyday routine. A few other recommendations to get you started are Creative Pep Talk, Song Exploder, The Create Unknown, and The Coffe &Convos Podcast. Make sure to look around for voices and topics that resonate with you personally, but these are definitely great places to start.
Forums and Groups
Maybe what you’re really missing is actually interacting with your fellow creatives. A simple way to scratch that itch is to join forums and groups where you can discuss projects, techniques, and more!
Facebook offers an intuitive way to search for open groups that pertain to your specific creative interests, like CourseCraft’s group dedicated to online course creators. Try to be as granular in your search as possible, to find groups that you’ll actually mesh with. You’d be surprised what strange and amazing overlap is out there!
Digital Studio Tours
It can be inspiring to see where and how artists you admire work. In the past, in-person studio tours offered a glimpse into the creative life of local artists in your community. While that particular practice is off the table for the time-being, creative institutions like New York’s Whitney Museum are offering the digital equivalent that can be viewed from home. Take a peek into your favorite artists’ studios and get inspired for your own space!
Find New Creatives to Be Inspired By
Broadening the creative works that you ingest will always have a positive effect on your own creative process and viewpoint. There are so many incredibly talented artists out there, it’s impossible to know about all of them, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying!
Instagram has become a veritable hub for artists of all levels. Searching using art-centric hashtags, and following artists that excite you is an easy way to add more artists to your knowledge bank. Online art portfolio showcases such as Behance, Dribble, and People of Craft are also great places to scroll through and get lost in exceptional artwork.
Teach a Creative Course on CourseCraft
Creating your own e-course is an awesome way to share your creative process, generate additional income, and most importantly: connect with the larger creative community! If you’re interested in teaching painting, drawing, silk-screening, or any other creative skill, but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a helpful guide. Teaching others a creative skill you're proud of is a great way to help and connect with creatives from around the world.
You don’t need to let physical distance get in the way of remaining connected to those around you. Don’t be afraid to reach out (virtually) to your creative communities to continue to collaborate, critique, and be inspired.
If you’re looking to share tips and chat with fellow online course creators, be sure to join our Creative Online Course Makers Facebook group. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.