2026 AMAZE—A One Day Cultural Arts Event

What Makes This Event Special

This regional conference is a chance for creatives, educators, artists, performers, advocates, cultural arts organizations, and anyone who believes in the role of the cultural arts in our communities to come together for a day that celebrates creativity through engaging conversation, hands‑on exploration, practical ideas, and the kind of connection that grows through shared experiences—all with a focus on strengthening our community.

What you can expect

Engaging Sessions and Discussions

Throughout the day, you’ll have a chance to enjoy panel discussions, interactive workshops, and informative presentations—find a space to be curious, network with like-minded others, and gain new insights.

Details

• Saturday, March 21 - Full day event

• Conference begins - 9:00 am

• Check-in - 8:30 am

• Held in partnership with the Annual Illinois Art Educators Conference

• Location: John A. Logan College

• FREE Parking (more details coming soon)

Why join us

• Real-world learnings from creative peers and experts

• Explore what resiliency looks like, sustaining this work through challenging and shifting conditions

• New strategies and idea-sparking networking

• A chance to compare notes with other creatives

• Exposure to educators and creatives from across the region

• Connections that lead to collaborations, shared resources, and future projects

• Access to processes and perspectives you may not encounter in your day-to-day.

• A space to ask questions, be curious, push ideas, and rethink assumptions

Keynote

Beth Lo—Internationally recognized ceramicist, illustrator, educator, and musician

Hear from a passionate, thoughtful, and expansive creative talent—sharing her insights from a career that crosses mediums, cultures, and creative disciplines. View more about the artist and her work on her website.

“What is art?”

“They don’t know a definition of it. But everybody knows what an aesthetic response is, so if you go out in the mountains and you see something, you have that feeling of being uplifted...a feeling of awe or inspiration, of motivation...I think that art does the same thing, only it's made by humans.”

~ Beth Lo

Watch her video to learn more about Beth Lo, her passions, and her work here.

With the support of Good Chaos, the Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts,