Spring Spotlight Six
Six CreativeGround Profiles We Love: March 2024
Kicking Off the Spring with This Season's Spotlight Six
Posted 3/21/24
At CreativeGround, we are always on the lookout for reasons to celebrate and spotlight the folks behind each profile, and as we enter the spring season – one of renewed energy and excitement – we highlight six profiles that are contributing to New England’s diverse creative economy.
Read through to see how these profiles use CreativeGround to share their creative activities and services, connect with and build their networks, and help bring resources to artists and arts organizations who may not already have access to their services.
Nicole Zuraitis
Based in West Haven, CT
Nicole Zuraitis is a GRAMMY-Award Winning jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, Connecticut-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. Nicole is the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and frequently headlines iconic NYC jazz clubs, has appeared as a featured soloist with philharmonics and symphonies, and is an educator and faculty member at NYU and SUNY Purchase.
Indigo Arts Alliance
Based in Portland, ME
Indigo Arts Alliance embodies a multiracial approach to the rich intersections of citizenship, community-building, and creativity. Their work is in service to shifting historical injustices as a vital component of achieving equity for Black and Brown artists. They believe that artists are instrumental to doing the work of social justice in ways that are deeply grounded in lived experience and community.
Jeff Kasper
Based in Northampton, MA
Jeff Kasper is an artist, writer, and educator who – through public art, publications, participatory learning, and design – works to make tangible the creative potentials of accessibility, social support, and trauma-aware culture. His artworks center dialogical, reflective, and instructional texts that prompt contemplation, relationship building, and serious play. He has received several fellowships and awards, and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Department of Art.
Queerlective
Based in Manchester, NH
Queerlective is an arts services organization that seeks to create and promote inclusive environments for the queer, BIPOC and underserved communities with a focus on utilizing art for personal and community growth. The focus of their work is to directly uplift the diverse creative economy of Manchester. Through using art to bring together and celebrate the community, they feel they can build stronger connections throughout New Hampshire.
The Steel Yard
Based in Providence, RI
The Steel Yard offers arts and technical training programs designed to increase opportunities for cultural and artistic expression, career-oriented training, and small business incubation. It is a professional industrial shop that allows community access to equipment for welding, blacksmithing, jewelry, ceramics and the foundry arts. In the evenings and weekends the facility is also used for training and educational programs, free demonstrations and events.
Rachel Sargent Mirus
Based in Waterbury, VT
Rachel is a STEAM teaching artist, science writer, and life long learner. As a teacher, Rachel's passion is to inspire observation, experimentation, and creativity in learners of all ages. Originally trained in biology, Rachel has worked in research labs and museums across the country and now teaches workshops at organizations and at school residencies that lead students to deepen their awareness of and connections to nature, art-making, and the scientific process through open-ended and exploratory visual arts projects.