Sunday, April 09, 2006
In Saginaw, MI, an area hard-hit by the compression of the auto industry, civic leaders are turning to new approaches to build their economy. They are seeing the arts as an increasingly important driver of economic development. Read more.
The same is happening in Maine, where a leadership summit last week explored possibilities of creative businesses. Read more.
In the late 1990s, the UK government began to focus on creative clusters. By 2000, this approach began to take root in New England. Now, cities and regions across the country are starting to look at their arts communities in new and different ways.
In the past, the arts community occupied a peripheral role in most economic involvement strategies. Economic development professionals saw the arts as part of the "quality of life".
Now, however, regions are starting to see the arts community as part of a continuum of businesses that stress creativity and innovation. If you want a good book on the subject, read Charles Landry's The Creative City.
posted by Ed Morrison |
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Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
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Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
Saginaw looks to the arts
