CADC 49: A Night of Creative Excellence
& A PEEK AT OUR 50TH PLANS
We’re still riding the creative high from this year’s show — and we have you to thank for that.
On July 15th, 160 of us came together at Stress Factory in Bridgeport to not only celebrate the best creative work in Connecticut, but also the passion that’s drawn together this community for nearly 50 years. It was a night of inspiration, connection, and plenty of well-deserved recognition.
We honored incredible work across disciplines, welcomed our newest Hall of Fame inductee, Gerard Huerta, and saw firsthand how much talent and vision lives here. Whether you took home an award or left feeling creatively recharged, we hope you are carrying that momentum through the rest of the year
You can see all of this year’s winning work here → View the Winners
And relive the night with our recap video → Relive the Night
A NEW CHAPTER: HAVN
One of the most exciting moments of the night was announcing HAVN, our new mentorship program, which is designed to connect creatives across all stages of their careers. We’ll be beta testing the structure of HAVNfor the rest of this year, with a full launch planned for 2026 — just in time for our 50th anniversary. It’s one more way we’re building intentional, lasting connections in our creative community.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Next year marks a huge milestone: a half a century of the CADC bringing Connecticut’s creative community together, championing the work that moves us, and holding space for ideas — and people — to thrive.
This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of where we’ve been; it’s a chance to imagine where we’re going. We’re planning a year of events, collaborations, and new initiatives that honor our legacy while pushing us into the future. From reimagining the CADC trophy to launching programs that connect and inspire, next year will be something truly special.
This year’s show reminded us why we create, why we connect, and why this community matters. Thank you for showing up, showing off, and showing us all what’s possible. Here’s to the next chapter — and to celebrating the next 50 years, together.
