Eau Claire was one of the first communities in Wisconsin to get on board three years ago for the state’s inaugural Creative Economy Week. The brainchild of Arts Wisconsin, a statewide arts advocacy group based in Madison, and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, which represents cities and villages across the state, Creative Economy Week has the stated purpose of “promoting and celebrating civic engagement through the arts and creativity, creative economy initiatives, and creative placemaking in Wisconsin’s communities.” This year’s Creative Economy Week, May 11-18, includes eight days of artistic celebrations and conversations about the intersection of creativity and commerce. Highlights include “Make the Most of Your Art Fair Season,” a discussion at 8:30am Tuesday, May 14, at Tangled Up in Hue, 505 S. Barstow St.; a painting demonstration from 6-8pm Thursday, May 16, at 200 Main Art and Wine, 200 Main St.; and “Crowdfunding and Opportunity Zone Finance,” 5-7pm Thursday, May 16, at Forage, 930 Galloway St., Building 13, Suite 212. The latter will feature a panel discussion about creative ways to invest in entrepreneurs. Among the panelists will be Brian Edstrom, a 1999 Memorial High School graduate and Minneapolis-based attorney who focuses on securities crowdfunding: the use of online platforms (similar to Kickstarter) that offer equity investments in businesses rather than merely solicit donations. Edstrom will be joined by fellow attorney Lisa Holter Ankel and David Duccini of Silicon Prairie, one of Edstrom’s clients. Tickets for the panel are $5 and can be purchased at forageeauclaire.com. To learn more, contact Kristen Dexter at info@forageeauclaire.com or call (715) 461-0082. For a full calendar of Creative Economy Week events, visit downtowneauclaire.org/events/our-events/creative-economy-week.