World Creativity & Innovation Week
April 15th-21st
World Creativity & Innovation Week is a celebration of our ability to imagine and to make new decisions, creating a better life. The week’s 2026 theme was “America: 250 Years of Creativity!” Everyone is invited to join the fun. Envision a world united through its creativity and innovation. As part of the celebration, the Center honors area citizens and organizations for “encouraging a culture of innovation” and grants scholarships and awards to students.
A number of events will celebrate creativity and innovation throughout April. Most events are free and open to the public. Any local business or organization wanting to share its creativity and innovation is invited to host an event.
Events for the annual celebration are designed to:
To INSPIRE PEOPLE, the initiators of creative innovation and drivers of impactful change.
To INSPIRE CONNECTION, leading collaboration and group efforts creating thriving environments founded from creativity.
And to INSPIRE ACTION, propelling creatives across the world to innovate with energy and purpose.
Student Innovation Awards
The Center for Creative Solutions will award area students and their organizations for innovative projects or products during World Creativity & Innovation Week in April 2027. The winners will receive community recognition and a monetary prize. Students of any age are welcome to enter. Stay tuned for more details.
Anyone, including students, may submit an application. The project/product may be in any area, such as in technology, the arts, etc.
Student applications can be completed below or download the PDF here.
Applications are due by March 20, 2027.
CREO! Award
During World Creativity & Innovation Week, the Board of Directors will bestow the CREO! It honors a citizen or organization that has encouraged a culture of creativity and innovation in our community. CREO is a Latin word, meaning “to create.” It stands for: Creativity, Regional, Excellence and Originality.
Nomination forms can be completed below or download the PDF here.
Nomination forms are due by March 20, 2027.
Tej Ram Gupta Scholarships
In conjunction with Dr. Rakish and Bina Gupta and the B. R. Foundation of Michigan City, each year the Center awards Tej Ram Gupta student scholarships to three A. K. Smith Career Center seniors. The scholarships honor Tej Ram Gupta, father of Bina Gupta, who emphasized the importance of education during his lifetime.
Student applications can be completed below, or download the PDF here.
Applications are due by March 20, 2027.
Community Partners and Sponsors
The Center welcomes organizations, businesses and schools interested in participating in Northwest Indiana’s World Creativity & Innovation Week. Sponsors and Community Partners provide financial support, host a creativity event; or encourage a culture of creativity.
This year, Community Partners included Art-on-the-Air, Lakeshore Public Media; Divine Vintage Story Walk; La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest Indiana; Michigan City Public Library; The Nest; Westville Public Library; and WIMS Radio.
The year’s celebration was made possible by Bethany Church Foundation of La Porte; the B. R. Foundation and Dr. and Bina Gupta; Family Express Corporation; the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Morgan Foundation; and The Renaissance Group.
To join the celebration, contact the Center by telephoning 219-326-7259 or emailing creativity52@comcast.net.