Creative Segment Leader Spotlight: Jordyn Taylor Fitch with Junction Arts & Media
Creative Segment Leader: Jordyn Taylor Fitch
Pronouns: They/them
Organization/Business and Position: JAM – Junction Arts & Media, Community Engagement Producer
Creative Segment: Film & Media
Medium: Community Access Television
Creative Zone: Cornerstone Creative Community (3CVT) Zone
Website/Public Media:
JAM Website
JAM Instagram
JAM Youtube Channel
The Creative Segment Leader Spotlight series explores the seven Creative Segments that make up Vermont’s diverse creative sector by shining a spotlight on the people who work within them.
Tell us about your work/business or organization and how it came to be:
JAM – Junction Arts & Media (CATV, Community Access Television) is a 501(c)3 community-building organization that enables open public dialogue, expression, and government transparency by providing access to the expanding world of media and has done so for the past 30 years. JAM serves the towns of Hartford, Hartland, and Norwich, VT and Hanover and Lebanon, NH. JAM provides a platform to all residents where they can debate local issues, showcase artistic expression, and celebrate school and community happenings. JAM also delivers independent access to local political issues through the recording of government meetings.
Share something exciting you/your organization is working on:
Our organization has kicked off this fall with immersive media arts opportunities in a new home under a new name reflecting its growth: JAM – Junction Arts & Media. JAM builds upon CATV’s trusted role as the Upper Valley’s non-profit public access media organization, now supporting local content creators across the full media spectrum and through in-person media arts exhibits, activities, and events.
CATV’s transformation received a boost in July when it exceeded its crowdfunding campaign goal of $15,000 to earn a 2:1 match through the Vermont ACCD’s Better Places program, which aims “to create inclusive and vibrant spaces.” This grant is enabling the expansion of JAM’s offerings and new walk-in media arts space in White River Junction, VT (in the former Newberry Market). JAM is now open daily as a gathering place for the public to acquire multimedia skills, meet collaborators, be inspired by media arts installations, and connect with audiences through in-person events designed to build community through media arts.
Describe something that has changed for you and your work during the pandemic:
I think the pandemic has made everyone reevaluate their relationships with others, their community, and with connection in general. “Media Organization” has been an interesting space to occupy, as we’ve seen so many people dealing with a sense of exhaustion and apprehension around media consumption. Whether it was the news, or a binge TV show, or a Twitter feed, social and digital media were the only things keeping us all just barely sane and with some semblance of connection to one another. So where does that leave an organization with a core mission of sending you more media through your screens? I think the pandemic is one of many things that really helped not only catalyze, but also really solidify the need for our repositioning within the community – not just a cable channel that’s beaming you information, but a media arts community using media to bring people together.
Share something special about being a creative within your town or community:
I’ve found that the most special and exciting aspect of being a creative in the Upper Valley has been tapping into this deep-rooted, dedicated, and highly collaborative community of artists that sits sorta tucked away, just below the surface. It’s not something I particularly noticed about this area when I was in undergrad, but after stepping into a new, creative, and community-facing role in White River, I have felt this almost explosion of connections and creativity and a general attitude within the creative community here that screams: Let’s just make art together because it makes us happy. And I freaking love that.