Create Portage County

Mission: Accelerating creativity, connection, and collaboration to advance vibrant and welcoming communities. Vision: To nourish communities where creativity, the arts, and entrepreneurship intertwine, fostering transformative experiences that celebrate diverse voices, ignite economic prosperity, and cultivate a sense of belonging. CREATE Portage County's journey from its origins as the Arts Alliance of Portage County is a story of innovation, growth, and community impact. Since its founding in 2004, the organization has championed arts and culture as vital components of local development. Early on, the Arts Alliance leveraged economic data and creative economy studies to drive arts-based growth. By 2015, the organization’s success in transforming local tourism through strategic marketing and creative initiatives led to the launch of CREATE Portage County, expanding its mission to support all forms of creativity.