Create Your State is hitting the road again…

and we want to shine a spotlight on your community!

Call for Host Communities • April 2027

Here in Princeton, West Virginia, we’ve seen extraordinary transformation through the arts and creativity. Over two decades, artists, entrepreneurs, and community partners have helped bring new life to our once-desolate downtown, creating spaces, experiences, and an atmosphere that is now flourishing with life. We love sharing our story, along with the strategies and tools we’ve gathered along the way—and we know there’s so much we can all learn from each other!

Creative movements are taking root across West Virginia, each with its own character and at different stages of development. We share many of the same hopes and challenges, and gathering to exchange ideas and experiences helps all of us move forward.

At our October 2025 Create Your State Convening, we welcomed creative changemakers to Princeton and shared our downtown as a living laboratory of what’s possible. Now, we want to turn the spotlight toward your community.

Is that same transformative energy growing in your town? Would you love to showcase what’s happening, share what you’re learning, and learn alongside others from across the state?

RiffRaff Arts Collective invites proposals to host a Create Your State Roadshow & Mini-Convening in April 2027, a Friday–Saturday gathering we’ll design together around your community’s creative people, places, and possibilities.

Note: some flexibility in timing may be possible.

What we bring

A documentary spotlight on your creative community

This winter, we’ll visit your town and work with you to create a short documentary featuring the artists, venues, projects, and local stories you’d love to share. We’ll premiere it at the opening of the convening, introducing participants to the place and people they’ll be learning from and with. The film will continue to showcase your community as part of our From the Ground documentary collection.

An inspiring musical and multimedia Roadshow

Through original live music, compelling visuals, storytelling, and lighting, the Create Your State Roadshow brings Princeton’s creative transformation to life. It’s an opportunity to energize your community, spark ideas, and help civic and business leaders see how the arts can drive meaningful change.

A Friday–Saturday gathering we create together

We’ll bring our experience as event producers and work alongside your local team to shape a gathering around your community’s strengths and interests.

Friday evening opens with your documentary premiere, followed by the Create Your State Roadshow. Saturday brings local showcases, panel discussions, creative experiences, and peer exchange with leaders from your area and across West Virginia. The program may include visits to creative spaces, artist demonstrations, and opportunities to experience what makes your town distinctive.

Together, we’ll share stories, trade strategies and best practices, talk honestly about challenges, learn from one another, and cultivate an ongoing peer-to-peer network.

Our team brings sound, lighting, and event production to help bring our shared vision to life.

Bringing it to life together

We’ll work with each selected host community toward a shared fundraising goal of $15,000 through sponsorships, grants, partnerships, tiered ticket pricing, and in-kind support. These resources will help cover venue rental, catering, local speaker stipends, performances, production, lodging, and travel.

Together, we’ll develop an event budget that reflects local costs and available resources. Our team will provide sponsorship materials and recognition opportunities and collaborate with local partners on outreach.

You may apply with a proposed funding approach; funds do not need to be secured before submitting your proposal.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for local teams of changemakers, artists, organizers, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and community champions who are excited to showcase their creative community, learn from our story and strategies, and welcome others into a shared learning experience.

Host partners will help co-design the gathering, connect us with local stories and leaders, identify suitable spaces, engage potential supporters, and promote the event.

Tell us about your town!

What creative work is taking root? Who should we meet? What could other communities learn from your experience, and what would you love to explore together?

What would you love to learn from us?

Submit your host-community APPLICATION: https://createyourstate.org/host-a-convening

Proposal deadline: November 1, 2026 

Questions? Contact: Lori McKinney, lori@theriffraff.net / 304-320-8833

Let’s bring our stories together…and see what we can spark.

Create Your State is a program of RiffRaff Arts Collective, supported by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Explore our 2025 Princeton Convening
Watch a From the Ground documentary short