Every creative year has its rhythm, the spark that starts an idea, the quiet moments of collaboration, the breakthroughs that remind you why you started.
For Ampersand Studios, 2025 was about movement not just forward, but deeper. Across Miami and Nashville, we watched ideas grow into partnerships, studios transform into experiences, and our community turn creativity into connection.
Where Creativity Took Center Stage
In Miami, our year began with momentum.
Partnering with AAF Miami for Coworking Days brought together agencies, advertisers, and brand leaders, sparking an ongoing collaboration that showcased the city’s creative pulse. From the Addy Awards to Brand Builders: Game Changers, each event reinforced our shared commitment to elevating creativity and connection across Miami. Our Creative Hour series carried that momentum, offering space for local makers and founders to exchange ideas and inspiration.
January’s &Member: Headshots by Femforce set the tone for the year. Members refreshed their professional portraits, swapped stories, and connected on new levels. It was simple, yet powerful proof that community grows from the moments when we invest in one another.
As the year unfolded, we continued to see creativity take new forms. Our Women in Business event, hosted in partnership with V Creative Miami and Breaking Glass, gathered a dynamic group of female founders, creators, and professionals for candid conversations about leadership, balance, and breaking barriers in business. The atmosphere was electric, filled with honesty, laughter, and shared ambition. It was a celebration of women shaping their industries and owning their stories together.
Throughout the year, our spaces became canvases. Art activations, brand shoots, and pop-ups A room where people brainstorm and edit by day transformed into immersive experiences by night blurring the lines between workspace and creative stage.
Nashville: Building Community on Music Row
At Music Row, the sound of progress echoed just as strong.
Our “Power of Independent” panel with PERK PR filled the house with a bold conversation about independent music, entrepreneurship, and creative ownership. The takeaway was clear: independence doesn’t mean isolation. It means having a space that supports your next move.
Later in the year, our &Grow Workshop Series took shape — a hands-on program designed to give creatives, founders, and small teams the tools to scale their businesses with purpose. Sessions led by industry professionals like Meliss Jones, Jessica Murray and Tim Barret brought real-world expertise to the table, covering everything from brand strategy to operational systems and client growth.
“The event at Ampersand re-energized me. I left with new connections, new inspiration, and the feeling that I belong to something bigger.”
How Our Events Evolved
At the start of the year, our goal was clear: Increase awareness, drive membership, and build community. But by midyear, we realized that impact matters more than volume. Instead of more events, we focused on meaningful ones, the kind that spark collaboration, not just conversation.
We leaned into curated experiences built around purpose: creative growth, business scaling, and production innovation. We connected our Miami and Nashville programming more closely than ever before, creating a shared identity between two distinct creative cities.
Looking Ahead
As we close the chapter on 2025, one thing is certain: The best is yet to come.
Next year marks the continued expansion of our creative footprint from Miami to Music Row and soon to Nashville Yards. Each new milestone is another step toward building spaces where creativity feels at home and collaboration fuels what’s next.
To every member, partner, and creative who shared this year with us, thank you. Here’s to another year of imagination, growth, and the moments that move us.
