7th Annual Creating Community Conference: The Expanding Landscape of Art and Disabilities: October 5-8, 2026
We are pleased to invite you to the 7th Annual Creating Community Conference (CCC7), titled The Expanding Landscape of Art and Disabilities, to be held October 5–8, 2026, in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Creating Community Conference brings together artists and professionals from progressive art studios across the United States and beyond, along with professionals active in disability arts, rights, and theory, to discuss best practices, advocacy, and the evolving landscape of art and disability. This annual event, a Creative Growth initiative launched in Oakland, CA in 2019, aims to foster dialogue and collaboration around the importance of inclusive creative spaces for artists with developmental disabilities and mental health differences.
This year's conference will be hosted in Detroit and Ann Arbor Michigan, and is locally organized and led by the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC), with support from the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities, and Library Street Collective. National administration and strategic support is being provided by Creative Growth, in collaboration with the Progressive Art Studio Alliance (PASA).
CCC7 invites both internal (studio staff and artists) and external (general public) audiences to engage with the art and practice of progressive art studios. The conference covers a range of topics from hands-on studio practice, exhibiting, collecting and representing artists with disabilities, self-taught art, outsider art, disability studies, mental-health, radical pedagogy and more, expanding the conversation on platforming the creative production of marginalized communities, opening up the art world to disabled artists, and the transformative power of art.
Creating Community is an ongoing conference and programming series developed by Creative Growth that convenes in partnership with progressive art studios, universities, and cultural institutions in Oakland, CA and various locations. In addition to the annual gathering, Creative Growth periodically collaborates with partner institutions to present related Creating Community convenings, symposia, and public programs.
Tickets
To Purchase tickets and reserve your spot at the conference please use this LINK.
Financial Support
If you would like to attend the conference but need financial assistance, email us about scholarships progressiveart@stepcentral.org.
Itinerary and RFP
We are currently assembling the itinerary for this conference which will be updated on the CCC7 website page in the coming months as the speakers and events become more clear.
10/5/26: 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM
CCC7 Day 1, Arrival, Welcome Drinks and Dinner: Little Village, DT
10/6/26: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
CCC7 Day 2 Sessions: The Shepherd, DT
10/7/26: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
CCC7 Day 2 (Optional PAS Short Film Night): The Shepherd, DT
10/7/26: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
CCC7 Day 3: Sessions Cont. The Shepherd, DT
10/8/26: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
CCC7 Day 4 Sessions: U of M, Ann Arbor, MI
10/8/26: 05:30 PM - 07:30 PM
CCC7 Day 4 External Public Lecture: U or M, Ann Arbor, MI
We are looking for additional speakers. We invite studio artists and staff, as well as others in the broader community to submit proposals to present at this year's conference. RFPs are due May 18, 2026. Please see the link for RFPs below
Please visit the CCC7 request for proposals here!
Accommodations
There are a couple of options for accommodations, hotels and Airbnbs. We have reserved two hotel blocks during the conference. Accommodation codes will be available after purchasing tickets
Hotel Houze Detroit Downtown (up to 60 rooms available):
305 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
This is an extended stay hotel with kitchen.
- $159 per night, Studio bdrm King/Queen, 31 rooms available
- $189 per night, 1 bdrm King/Queen, 21 rooms available
- $189 per night, 1bdrm King ADA accessible, 3 rooms available
- $219 per night, 2 Bdrm Queen, 5 rooms available
Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Downtown (up to 20 rooms available):
333 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
This is a standard hotel room
marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dtwdc-courtyard-detroit-downtown/overview/
- $199 per night, King room, 12 rooms available
- $219.00 per night, 2 Queen beds per room,
- + Occupancy Tax: 16% (6% state sales tax, 10% occupancy/county/tourism)
There are also lots of great Airbnbs in the area close to the Shepherd (1265 Parkview Street, Detroit, MI 48214). We suggest searching in the Indian Village or West Village neighborhoods.
Or email us if you need additional suggestions progressiveart@stepcentral.org .
For any additional questions, email us at progressiveart@stepcentral.org
We look forward to welcoming you to Michigan for this important gathering.