On Ithaca
From 2014–2016, we enjoyed three incredibly successful Create Upstates (Upstati?) in Syracuse. Successful from the standpoint of getting our community in one location for a day or two to talk shop, make relationships, and grow.
Syracuse was a logical starting point for this endeavor. It’s the most centrally located city in Upstate New York, not to mention a certain organizer is a little biased about it. The first three years have allowed us to hone in some facets of our program while testing out others.
If one thing has been clear, it’s that Create Upstate’s growth is tethered to the growth of Upstate’s design community. As the community grows more familiar with itself, it allows CU to make calculated risks when it comes to community building (see: Marketplace), and competition (see: Cropped) for that matter. What wouldn’t have worked so well in Year 1 seems like a natural progression in Year 3.
Finding Our Festival
We went scouting. I’m talking full-on field trips.
Truth be told, we didn’t really know what we were looking for. But we did know why we were looking. It wasn’t anything that Syracuse lacked, but you if you’ve been along for the four-year journey, you can tell, nay… feel, that the our community was ready for a new adventure. Less “conference”, perhaps. More exploration, discovery, and celebration.
Heck, we only get to do this once a year. That’s cause for celebration in itself.
We’re also a tight-knit bunch here in Upstate. Even first-time attendees feel the sense of community almost immediately.
So, a new adventure it is.
Now, new adventures typically require risks. When you run a 250-attendee event, risks aren’t something you tend to gravitate towards. Generally. Ironically, what helps temper the risk is finding something that helps you commit to the risk.
The risk, in our case, was changing our format from a conference to a festival. The something was (is) Ithaca.
Checking All the Boxes
If any Upstate city enables us to dive in to a festival format, it’s Ithaca.
Vibrant creative community? Check.
Routinely holds actual street festivals? Check.
Multiple venues (with comfortable seating… we hear you!) all within walking distance? Check.
Non-conference adventures (think: hikes) for Upstate enthusiasts? Check.
The feeling that Create Upstate will make a tangible impact on the city? Check.
It’s not hard to be excited about Ithaca in general. It’s even more exciting to think of how Ithaca can make Create Upstate even better. With all due respect to the other fantastic Upstate cities, we’re giddy about Ithaca.
We’re psyched about our new location this year. There’s plenty of reasons we’ll dig in to over the coming weeks why you should make plans to stay for all three days of CU. So, are you up for the new adventure? Head on over to createupstate.com and snag an Event Pass already!
