CommsCon 2026: Day 1 - Artists & Creative Entrepreneurs

Northwest Arkansas’ creative community is invited to CommsCon 2026! Artists, creatives, creative entrepreneurs, and arts and culture nonprofit organizations are invited to the Fayetteville Public Library on September 21 and 22 for two days of free-to-you access to communications professionals and communications skill development.

Day 1 is all about creatives! Full Schedule Below: 

• 10 - 10:30 am — Registration and Check-in
  
  
• 10:30 - 11:30 am — Articulating Your WHY to Your Network
  Identify and articulate your "why" as an artist! Own it and keep it at the core of all your communications, from a pitch email to your socials and web presence.  Facilitator: Stacie Bloomfield

• 11:45 am - 12:45 pm — Building Brand and Reputation
  Branding and marketing seem icky or scary? Whether you’re a new creative entrepreneur (or don’t even identify as that yet) or have been doing this for a while, this session will set you up with a zero judgment and easy-to-use checklist to help you present your visual brand authentically and consistently. Facilitator: Matthew McMillan - E_O Space

• 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm — Lunch provided!
  
  
• 1:30 - 2:30 pm — Documentation 
  

  Brand storytelling through video and images without losing the humanity in your work is a challenge. This practical session will include specific how-to’s and tools as well as encouragement as you navigate the challenges of putting yourself out there.  Facilitator: Jessica Whalen

• 2:45 - 3:45 —  Panel Discussion - Driving Sales and Visibility 
  Effective promotion on social media and online sales platforms transforms art into a product that can reach a wider, global, or targeted audience. Make it make “cents”. Panelists: Stacie Bloomfield, Na'Tosha De'Von, Ashlyn Dillard'Hansen, Travis Smith

• 4:00 - 5:00 pm — Getting the Word(s) Out
  How to talk to the media and other audiences about your work and your next big project.  Facilitator: Jason Suel

• 5:00 - 6:00 pm — Social Hour 
  Drinks and snacks provided

• Ongoing 1:1 Consulting Sessions!
  Get a new professional headshot, meet with a consultant for free one-on-one support to build a brand blueprint, evaluate your social media strategy, get tools to build creative content or strategies to communicate with the media, and get to know representatives from CACHE and FPL.

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CommsCon is hosted in partnership with the Fayetteville Public Library.