Event Details
The 2025 Exchange will be hosted in partnership with the Greater Burlington Partnership, the Capitol Theater and the Art Center of Burlington. The Creative Places Exchange planning committee also includes leadership from The University of Iowa Institute for Sustainable Communities.
The exchange will highlight Burlington’s recent placemaking projects and events and include sessions led by community leaders from across Iowa who have planned and implemented arts, culture, and creative placemaking projects.
This exchange enables communities to connect through community tours, presentations and peer learning sessions designed to create actionable solutions for issues that challenge creative communities across Iowa.
- Sessions led by community leaders from across Iowa who have planned and implemented arts and culture-focused development projects.
- Opportunities for all leaders to generate ideas and share resources.
- Project and Program based sessions designed to create actionable solutions for issues that challenge creative communities across Iowa. 
Who should attend?
- Artists and arts organizations working on place-based projects
- City and local government leaders
- Chamber of Commerce and Community and Economic Development leaders engaged in placemaking and talent attraction strategies
- Tourism professionals
Tentative Schedule
Pre-Exchange Opportunities -Thursday, May 8 (Afternoon):
- 3:00 p.m. Community presentations highlighting local projects hosted by University of Iowa Institute for Sustainable Communities (IISC)
- Evening networking and welcome reception – more information coming soon
Creative Places Exchange - Friday, May 9:
- Welcome and community presentation
- Walking tour highlighting current and future creative placemaking projects that are serving as catalysts for further community development and investment.
The afternoon topics will focus on:
- Building and sustaining cross sector partnerships and visioning
- Artists as community development and placemaking leaders
- Leveraging the creative sector in talent attraction and retention strategies
- Highlighting the creative sector through branding and communications
- Downtown revitalization and activation through arts and creativity
Registration Details
Registration link coming soon