Creativity Corner - A Neighborhood for Creative Growth

Jumping Past Barriers to Creative Growth in Tallahassee

As I wrote in the previous post, the Jump Start Plan X committee is really beginning to get some structure around their goals to promote the growth of small creative businesses in Tallahassee.  The committee is working hard toward achieving long-term, realistic goals that over time will, in addition to the efforts of the other committees, keep Tallahassee the beautiful city we love. 

Growth is inevitable, so it makes sense to ensure that this growth preserves the beauty and economic vitality of Tallahassee for the future and our children.   That's the dream.  The Knight Foundation Creative Communities Initiative is a positive step in the right direction toward achieving this dream.  Think of it as 'phase one' of building an economic foundation to meet the unique and practical needs of small creative businsses that will have an important impact on Tallahassee's growth over time.  It is the first and most difficult step.

Why is the first step so difficult?

As with any long-term, meaningful goal, the most important step is always the first step.  It is the most difficult step because it involves moving from a state of rest (a passive condition) to a state of motion, and overcoming any doubts. 

There have been many doubts expressed about the value and need for the Creative Communities Initiative for Tallahassee.  Unfortunately, too many of the objections I hear are the result of tunnel vision. Poor vision that believes Tallahassee has arrived to a beautiful state of completion, and that if we just don’t do anything it will always remain this way.  This 'vision' also believes that citizens who try to get involved and make a positive difference toward protecting the future of Tallahassee are just board, rather than creative and caring.   How sad...but not to worry. 

Here is something Jerry Osteryoung pointed out in one of his recent columns.   It’s a secret that creative people know, instinctively.  “Doubts are not truth. They are thoughts – to overcome!”

Building awareness for the need to plan for economic diversity in the Tallahassee regional area will take time, and possibly a few more tax cuts.  But, eventually, people will get the picture:  Scarcity is on the horizon, unless we plan for beauty and abundance. 

Best Regards,

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham

Getting the Creativity Equation Right for Tallahassee

I love questions and, of course, answers!  Don't we all?  Here are some addtional questions to consider, and hopefully a little insight to go with them.

1. What levers can be employed to nurture and grow the creative economy and a city's creative assets to make it a creative center?
2. How can the value of a city's creative and cultural assets be maximised for the purposes of regional economic development?
3. What are good practices which have proved successful?

For insights into questions 1 and 2 above, read Does Tallahassee have 'Levers'? Or, Better Maximizing Our Unqiue Potential

For insights into question 3, keep reading....

In addition to reviewing Richard Florida's Book, The Rise of the Creative Class. I have researched the internet and found that there are case studies and best practices available to guide Tallahassee's steps along the way to becoming a more creative and economically diverse city/region. (Maybe you already knew that.)

Currently from research, five themes of good practice keep appearing in the Creative Growth Equation.  That equation looks like this.

PEOPLE + ENTERPRISE + SPACE + CONNECTIVITY+ VISION = CREATIVE GROWTH

By adding our own insights to this generic process we Creativity Corner Neighbors can help work toward a unique equation that is right for Tallahassee.

Are you wondering how this could happen?  Well, I have an idea...

Multiply all of the above components by one additional factor:  LEADERSHIP

To be successful, Creativity x Leadership will be needed at all levels.

Individual Creativity
Group and Institutional Creativity
Grassroots & Community Creativity

While the growth process of creative cities can be broken down to its component parts (people, enterprise, space, connectivity & vision), the more difficult conceptualization involves visualizing connections between these. This is the task of leadership. Though all of these components may be present in a creative city, it will take leadership and vision to pull them together into a cohesive, sustainable force for growth.

'Leadership' means staying focused on a bigger picture.  Unfortunately, the 'Big Picture' is often mistaken for what is simply a Big Idea. Here is the distinction individuals need to make: 

The big picture will consider how all the creative components connect to achieve a sustainable, unified purpose that is unique to Tallahassee. 

But don't let this distinction discourage anyone from having a big idea!

Success factors which have been drawn from case studies in other areas are outlined below.  As you look at these, remember to keep adding and multiplying to make the connections for leading Tallahassee, step-by-step, to the big picture of success our children deserve:  Expanding and Diversifying Tallahassee's Economy for a positive future in a global world.

(ENTERPRISE & INNOVATION + VISION) x LEADERSHIP
Support from the business community is an essential component of a creative city's economy, as well as centers of convergence that combine education, research, high-tech, creative industry/production innovation and showcasing facilities. Higher Education, Research & Development, and Enterprise Clusters require transparent financing, knowledge transfer arrangements, and high quality physical facilities to work effectively.

(SPACE + VISION) x LEADERSHIP
Affordable space for creative activity and enterprise is an enduring issue. Capital assets must be legislatively or institutionally protected from market forces, especially around property and use of public and natural spaces to express a city's creativity.

(PEOPLE + VISION) x LEADERSHIP
Creative people and capital assets are a powerful force to regenerate neighbourhoods. Creativity instruction and activity in the public education system is a vital component of prioritising and supporting the creative industries. There is a need to engage in social and community renewal through culture and creativity. The grassroots level is the source for much creative talent. Impressive projects often emerge because of individuals or small groups of artists who provide visionary leadership.

(CONNECTIVITY + VISION) x LEADERSHIP
Getting to Multi-level, multi-sector support of the creative economy agenda is essential. Organizing infrastructure can connect existing creative activity and resources. This infrastructure must be stable and between two levels - city-wide and neighbourhood/community.

Here at Creativity Corner you'll find a neighborhood where ideas connect people in thoughtful dialogue. 

Thanks for stopping by Creativity Corner -
A Neighborhood for Creative Growth! 

Please join the neighborhood.  Add your questions, ideas, and insights for expanding and diversifying Tallahassee's economy in the comment box below, or email wonder_guide@yahoo.com

Best regards,

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham