WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Area Arts Commission is inviting members from area arts organizations, nonprofits, and the community to its 2026 forum, “Arts & Allies: A Speed Networking Workshop.”
The event will be held at the Stryker Center on Feb. 5. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for registration and light refreshments, with the program beginning promptly at 9 a.m.
This year, the city said WAAC adopted a different format for its half-day workshop, designed to bring arts organizations and other community members together for real conversations and relationship-building. Through a series of guided small-group sessions, attendees will be able to identify, discuss, and collaboratively plan solutions to the major concerns and interests affecting the arts and nonprofit communities.
With more than seven years of service on WAAC, the city said Commissioner Robin Phillips is excited to see the new speed-networking format in action.
“Attendees seem to appreciate the chance to network with their peers at these events,” Phillips said. “The Q&A sessions are always very active, and some of the surveys show that attendees would like more time to share information about the challenges they face and the solutions they have found. We’re hoping this year’s forum will give them that chance.”
According to the city, the schedule includes introductions, three roundtable sessions, a group Q&A, and open networking. When registering, attendees will be asked to provide topics of interest they would like to discuss at the workshop. These topics will be used to plan the small-group sessions, customizing each attendee’s experience.
WAAC Chair Thomas Phelps described the new format as “a new approach to self-solving solutions for many concerns and interests affecting the arts and nonprofit communities.”
“The Commission strives not only to support arts and nonprofit organizations through its grant-making process, but also support their needs, concerns, and interests as the landscape evolves. WAAC is proud to be a partner in bringing arts and culture to our citizenry,” Phelps said.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Sign up online to attend.
For more information on the Arts Commission and its programs, visit williamsburgva.gov/waac.
