Paducah Meeting Archive
Thematic Plenary Sessions
National and international speakers spoke to the role of Creative Cities in tourism, cultural revitalization and sustainable economic development. Click on the expert speaker's name/title for PDF presentation.
Creative Cities & Tourism Opportunities
- Featured Moderator: Nathan Lump, Editor-in-Chief, Travel + Leisure/Time, Inc.
- Kristen Branscum, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Tourism
- Gina Stouffer, President, Lou Hammond Group
- Catherine Prather, Executive Vice President, National Tour Association
- Melissa Cherry, Chief Marketing Officer, Destinations International
View the livestream recording of the plenary session here.
Economic Development & Urban Revitalization Using Arts & Culture
- Featured Moderator: Vendeline von Bredow, Midwest Correspondent, The Economist
- Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research & Public Policy, Americans for the Arts
- Don Parkinson, Secretary, Commonwealth of Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet
- Joe Framptom, CEO/Chairman of the Board, Paducah Bank
- Michael Cochran, Executive Director, Market House Theatre
View the livestream recording of the plenary session here.
Education, Institutions & Natural Resources for Sustainable Economic & Cultural Development
- Featured Moderator: Rafael Ortega, Global Product Line Manager, Nike, Inc.
- Donald Shively, Superintendent, Paducah Public Schools
- Dr. Jeffrey Seay, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky College of Engineering, Paducah Extended Campus Program
- Jason Albritton, Director of Climate & Energy Policy, The Nature Conservancy
- Charles Fluharty, President/CEO, Rural Policy Research Institute
View the livestream recording of the plenary session here.
Creative Field Workshops
Dr. Maurizio Carta led daily Creative Field Workshops to translate plenary session insights into action and deepen connections to the UNESCO 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
Paducah artist Kijsa Housman visually recorded the workshops and city presentations to create a roadmap for the future impacts of Creative Cities HERE.
The annual meeting concluded with the signing of the Paducah Declaration.
Meeting Sustainably
In line with UNESCO's International Year of Sustainable Tourism, the Paducah planning team sought to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through implementation of sustainable tourism development and green meeting practices. A participatory planning process with local stakeholders accomplished mutual benefit for the host community and visiting attendees. Environmental-friendly considerations encompassed accommodations, transportation, food and beverage, communications and collateral materials. This establishes a baseline and legacy for Paducah as an international convention destination and for future meetings of the Crafts & Folk Art sub-network.