The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is preparing to present their third Creative Communities Exchange (CCX), and this one is going to be in Portland on June 6 and 7, 2013.

This event brings together creative and cultural community leaders who work on creative economy projects in various sectors and types of organizations including cultural nonprofits, creative businesses, economic development, city planning, funders, researchers, and government. They share successes, challenges, and lessons learned to gain actionable tools they can use to strengthen their own communities.

NEFA is looking for about 30 workshops that highlight successful and innovative community projects that deploy arts, culture, and creativity in support of local economic development goals. They are particularly interested in presenting a balance that represents the New England region fully - considering geography, community size, ethnic representation, and age of target audiences.

Presenters at past events have been able to promote their communities, be considered for regional awards, and connect with their peers. If this appeals to you and if you have a project that fits the description - or know someone who might be interested – then you should apply online.You may wish to click the link to see what exactly NEFA are looking for, and if you have questions then help is at hand: You can contact Marc Goldring atmgoldring@nefa.org.

Please visit the Creative Communities Exchange website for additional information.