FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE, WA — April 30, 2026 — Building on the momentum of the city of Seattle’s recent proclamation, Governor Bob Ferguson has signed a statewide proclamation declaring May 2026 as Creative & Creator Economy Month in Washington State. Signed on April 15, 2026, the Governor’s proclamation recognizes the creative economy spanning artists, designers, cultural workers, media-makers, technologists, and creative entrepreneurs as a vital force driving cultural vitality, workforce innovation, small business development, and inclusive economic growth across the state.

The statewide proclamation amplifies what is already underway in Seattle, where the City of Seattle’s own proclamation of Creative and Creator Economy Month coincides with the launch of the Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance (CCEA), a Seattle-based 501(c)(4) bridging the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to turn creativity into compensation, and the inaugural Cre8te Summit, taking place May 14–15, 2026, in downtown Seattle. Together, these dual proclamations at the city and state level signal an unprecedented, coordinated commitment to positioning Washington State as a national leader in the future of creative work.

"Washington has a long and vibrant history of arts, culture, innovation, and creative expression that contributes significantly to the state's identity, economy, and quality of life," Gov. Ferguson wrote in the proclamation. "I encourage residents, businesses, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and public agencies to recognize the contributions of creative workers and support initiatives that empower the creative economy to thrive."

A Shared Mission: City and State Aligned Behind the Creative Economy

Governor Ferguson’s proclamation cites the creative economy’s role in supporting small business development, workforce innovation, tourism, community placemaking, and inclusive economic growth and emphasizes the need for expanded access to workforce education, business training, infrastructure, and sustainable economic pathways for creative workers who increasingly operate outside traditional employment structures.

These are precisely the gaps the Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance was built to close. With both the City of Seattle and the State of Washington now formally recognizing May as a month dedicated to the creative & creator economy, CCEA and the Cre8te Summit stand as the region’s most concrete response to that call, moving from proclamation to infrastructure, from recognition to action.

“When the City of Seattle proclaimed May as Creative and Creator Economy Month, it was a powerful signal. Now, with Governor Ferguson proclaiming May as Creative & Creator Economy Month across the entire state of Washington, it is a rallying call. This is the moment the creative economy stops being treated as a cultural afterthought and calls for investment in it as the economic engine it truly is. The Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance exists to make sure that momentum translates into real infrastructure, real pathways, and real livelihoods not just for Seattle, but for every creative professional across Washington State.”

— Arif Gursel, Founder, Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance

Cre8te Summit: May 14–15, 2026  |  Seattle, WA

Anchoring Creative and Creator Economy Month, the inaugural Cre8te Summit convenes May 14–15, 2026, at The Union and multiple locations within the 1201 Tower located on 1201 Third Avenue in downtown Seattle. The Cre8te Summit is a creator-first gathering built to help creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners turn their creativity into compensation.

Designed around one core philosophy, “more than a conference, a catalyst,”  the summit is built to move attendees from ideas to execution across two immersive days. Programming spans studio labs, fireside chats, live demos, practitioner-led workshops, a Creative Expo, a real-time Deal Table for collaborations and partnerships, and Office Hours with industry experts. Featured speakers include industry notables such as YouTube’s former Director of Music Culture, Tuma Basa, as well as internationally recognized industry leaders, along with regional and local contributors to Seattle’s creative & creator economies. The inaugural Cre8te Summit serves as the launchpad for a new era of creative workforce infrastructure across the region.

Tickets are on sale now at cre8tesummit.com, as well as grants to enable equitable access to information.

About the Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance (CCEA)

CCEA is a nonprofit initiative that bridges partnerships among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to help shape policy and forge pathways for people to convert creativity into compensation through practical playbooks and real economic opportunities via curated connections.

CCEA is a cross-sector partnership initiative that turns creativity into compensation by aligning policy, playbooks, and paid pathways, then activating the ecosystem through curated connections. Incubated and spearheaded by 8genC in partnership with The Union, a creator-focused innovation, community, and production hub. Learn more at cre8tesummit.com/who-we-are.

About the Cre8te Summit

The Cre8te Summit is an annual convening designed to help creatives and creators move from ideas to execution through real workflows, monetization strategies, and ecosystem deal-making. Learn more and get tickets at cre8tesummit.com.

About The Union

Launched on Juneteenth 2018, The Union is Seattle’s only creative innovation hub, focused on modern workforce development, featuring 12 modular content sets, co-working, education, and event space that powers modern media production, learning, and cultural convening. To learn more, visit: theunion.io.

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