Creative Groups Near Me

TINYACO Creative Writer's Salon

Book Launch Party: The Shape of Grace

NFT AI ART Columbus

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Drunken Philosophy: "What is Art?"

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. Optional Discussion Questions * Defining Art: Plato viewed art as an imitation of reality can art even be objectively defined, or is it entirely subjective? * Artist vs. Audience: Arthur Danto suggests art is defined by its interpretation within the "artworld." Who ultimately decides what counts as art the creator, the critic, the viewer, or society? * Limits of Art: Duchamp’s "Fountain" challenged our boundaries of art. Can anything even ordinary objects or actions become art? * Art and Meaning: Kant argued true art should evoke "disinterested pleasure." Does art need to have a message or deeper meaning, or can it exist purely to please aesthetically? * Art for the Masses: According to Benjamin, mass-produced art (film, photography, digital media) can democratize culture. Does widespread accessibility improve art or diminish its value? * Art and Truth: Heidegger suggests art reveals hidden truths about existence. Has an artwork ever fundamentally changed how you understand the world? Can a work of art change the way an entire society views the world? * Art and Emotion: Tolstoy believed the purpose of art is to transfer emotions. Must art evoke emotion to be valid? * Cultural Impact: How do cultural backgrounds influence our definition of art? Could something be art in one culture but not in another? * Art and Skill: Does art require technical skill or craftsmanship? Should a portrait of a crude person be painted crudely? * Art Museums: Are museums gatekeepers of culture, preservers of history, or something else entirely? What role do art museums serve? * NFT Art: Does art lose its value or authenticity if it only exists digitally? * Moral Art: Should art strive to morally improve us as Plato and Tolstoy argued, or should it be free from moral duties, as Wilde proposed? * Beauty and Meaning: Can art still be meaningful if it isn't traditionally "beautiful"? What qualities might make an artwork significant beyond aesthetic beauty? * Rejection of New Ideas: Why do new artistic ideas often face initial rejection? Are groundbreaking works inherently challenging to accepted tastes, or is rejection more about comfort and familiarity?

Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)

We're going to GameArena! We'll be in-person at the GameArena Gateway for our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event. Come to play and showcase your games! We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required). [www.game-arena.co](http://www.game-arena.co/) **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games is all the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. For this event, light snacks from the bar and water will be provided! Though you can purchase you own if you like at the bar: [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)

IN PERSON: Walk & Chat (with back-up weather plan!)

BAM Cocktail Mixer

## The Final BAM! | BL&F at the Columbus Museum of Art 🎨✨ We’re closing out the BAM season with one last night at the Columbus Museum of Art — and BL&F is pulling up! ❤️🖤 Join us Thursday, September 10 from **7–9 PM** for a laid-back evening of art, music, good energy, and even better company. If you’ve never been to BAM (Bar, Art & Music), this is the perfect one to catch. The museum comes alive after hours with music, drinks, art, and one of the best outdoor spaces in the city. ### THE PLAN We’ll meet up around **7 PM**, grab a drink, mingle, explore, and enjoy the evening together. No complicated itinerary. No awkward networking. Just come ready to unwind and meet some good people. **📍 Columbus Museum of Art** **📅 Thursday, September 10** **⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM** ### COME SOLO. BRING A FRIEND. JUST PULL UP. New to BL&F? **You are absolutely welcome.** You do not need to already know someone in the group. The whole point is to get out of the house, experience something different, and make some real-life connections along the way. And remember — **BL&F is not a dating group.** We’re building community, friendships, experiences, and actual social lives beyond the screen. **Real people. Real connections. Real fun.** Let’s send the BAM season out right. 🥂🎨🎶 **It’s more than an event. IT’S AN EXPERIENCE.**

Speak Easy (Storytelling)

The topic for September is "Pets." Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Shut Up & Write!™ Easton Town Center

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Happy Hour & Book Signing with Sara Elliott

Join us for happy hour at Cento before we head to The Book Loft at 7 pm to support fellow group member and local author Sara Elliott at the signing of her novel, The Shape of Grace. Come meet Sara, hear about her journey as an author, purchase a signed copy of The Shape of Grace, and celebrate this exciting milestone with our community. Whether you’re an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply looking to enjoy a fun evening with great company, we’d love to have you join us!

Columbus Build a Scalable Online Business with AI

**AI eCommerce for Entrepreneurs – Build a Store That Scales** The founders winning in eCommerce are using AI for everything — sourcing, marketing, fulfilment. This masterclass gives you the same playbook. Everyone in this session is building something. Expect real conversations about what is working and what is not. Your seat is only confirmed once you register below. Do not miss out. ### [REGISTER NOW](https://aiventurelab.org/product/AIEcommerce?city=Columbus&groupurlname=gliding-together-ice-skating-social-club&startgmtdatetime=2026-09-16T10:55:00Z) --- What you'll build: - AI-powered product research and ad creation workflows - A scalable income stream you can expand without hiring - A marketing funnel that drives traffic without manual effort The entrepreneurs building AI-powered stores today are setting themselves up for years of passive income. This is how you start.

Queer Quills

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**