What Is The Creative Economy?

By: George Callas

The 2009 Juice 2.0 Conference: Building Maine’s Innovation Networks brought together a great cross section of Maine’s leadership under the banner of the Creative Economy. We at the Midcoast Magnet have been buzzing about the roles that creative types can play in developing our state’s future, ranging from gubernatorial candidates and legislators to artists, bankers to technologists, builders and preservationists to dancers, educators to social networkers and so on, The connections and hats worn vary and run the gamut.

The Creative Economy, like the weather, is something that everyone seems to have an opinion about. With vague notions about what it actually is, it is hard for individuals and organizations to coordinate activities and commit resources towards its advancement.

The first level attempt to define the creative economy is deciding who makes up the creative class; the economic agents of creativity. Right out of the gate, we tend to think of the artists, isn’t all of their work creative? But in the core, the artists are also joined by the scientists, engineers, architects, designers, and software developers, along with those in the entertainment, education and music fields. However, another tier to the creative class is the broader group of creative professionals in business and finance, law, government and healthcare. Anyone who has followed stories around hedge funds, Ponzi schemes or Enron has some idea just how creative people in these disciplines can be. Finally, the third tier to the creative class is one not typically associated with creativity at all; factory and service workers. We all can attest to circumstances and stories where people in these positions went above and beyond to create solutions to customer problems. Tapping the creativity of workers in repetitive task positions has helped many firms excel in productivity and profits.

While there are traditionally defined creative-types in the economy, virtually any person in any kind of job can help further the creative economy cause. The conclusion is that creativity is “the ultimate economic resource”, but it draws crucially on our ordinary abilities. In this light, perhaps the ubiquitous buzz from Juice was to be expected, everyone was excited in their own way about their own field.

The crucial point and question here is if Maine wants to redefine itself along the lines of the creative economy does that mean we have to create certain kinds of jobs? Well yes, and no. On the one hand, having more scientists doing more research certainly helps. On the other hand, cultivating the creative potential in people throughout Maine’s economy also helps. This is where the Juice Conference comes into play; if nothing else it keeps alive creativity by “frequent and random collisions of people and ideas.” But, it is more than that, during the Perfect Pitch competition at this year’s conference over 40 Maine start-ups connected with bankers and venture capitalists, while honing their presentation skills.

If the creative economy can be developed both by developing “creative” jobs and by actively cultivating the creative capacity of ordinary people, what then can help Maine distinguish itself? This gets to the heart of the Creative Economy question and the answer turns out to be a traditional one: Place. It turns out that creativity flourishes in socially stable environments that nonetheless provide opportunities for random inspiration and the display of quality work. While this tends to be more available in major metropolitan areas, where individuals can circulate through social circles and following veins of attraction or inspiration, many come to Maine because they want to be in Maine. It is harder here to move in quasi-anonymity, alone with inspirations, without running into several people you know.

From a classical Creative Economy perspective Maine may not be socially great for the creative type. But, this is where organizations like the Midcoast Magnet come into play. The Magnet brings together people in decidedly creative vocations around its core activities, we don’t just hang out, we do stuff. And the stuff we do! Pecha Kucha, that funky Japanese creative showcase has attracted over 1,000 participants thus far around the Midcoast region, introducing leading-edge creative economy practitioners in a wide array of fields. The Juice Conference provides a concentrated form of creative stimulation across many fields and regions, from both inside and outside of Maine. The Magnet’s Juice Box events represent a scaled down version of this function across specified vocational fields. And all these events inspire participants to more deeply plumb their creativity storehouse and actively cultivate that precious economic resource.

Perhaps here we practice a more mature brand of the creative economy. What we may lack in streetscape fluidity and anonymity, we make up for with landscape beauty and endurance of engagement among creatives. Perhaps being in relationship with people whose creativity is on the go and growing more than compensates for the chance to substitute friends and stimulations. While big investments to create decidedly creative jobs is a fine thing, growing indigenous creative networks will probably in the long run do more to remake the face of Maine’s future economy.

Submitted By: George Callas - Midcoast Magnet Treasurer and President of Build Green Maine

Community Supported Agriculture in Maine

With over 140 farms and 6,200 shares, Maine's CSA community is transforming relationships with food and farms. There is no formula to a CSA. Each is unique as the community supporting it. The bottom line is that people make commitments to farms, and in return farmers make commitments to produce for their members the freshest, most flavorful, highest quality food possible.

Just in Knox County alone there's 10 farms offering share programs. What's better than that? Fresh produce every week right off the farm!

Agricola Farms, Union
Brae Maple Farm, Union
Dandelion Spring Farm, Washington
Guini Ridge Farm, Union
Hatchet Cove Farm, Warren
Home Grown Farm, Washington
Hope's Edge Farm & CSA, Hope
Peaceful Harbor Farm, Vinalhaven
Sweet Willow Farm, Washington
Weskeag Farms, Thomaston

Every county in Maine has CSA's. To find one in your county go to www.mofga.org

Information courtesy of Mofga.org

Wanna Social Network... In Real Life?

Wanna Social Network... In Real Life?

Social Network… In Real Life
March 16th at 5:30
Billy's Tavern, 1 Star Street, Thomaston

Midcoast Magnet held some focus groups last year and learned that people living in Knox and Waldo counties who are in their 20's and 30's want to get more involved, but they don't know how. They told us they want to meet each other, socialize, network and propel themselves in their personal and professional lives. They also mentioned that live music, and a good atmosphere wouldn't hurt either!

We went back to the drawing board and came up with a program "Social Network... In Real Life".

Do you find yourself wondering who else in Knox County is in their mid 20’s and 30’s?

Are you trying to find more business connections and to expand your resources in the Midcoast? Midcoast Magnet wants to help! Check out our first event, which will be a part of a series.

We’ll have appetizers and live music. Come network and socialize at the same time. For more information or questions contact info@midcoastmagnet.com

Are you on facebook? You can RSVP for the event.
Go to: www.facebook.com/midcoastmagnet and click on events

Pecha Kucha - March 26th

Open Call for Entries


What Is It? PechaKucha Night is an internationally recognized event based on a unique presentation style in which artists, designers and other creative individuals share twenty images, with twenty seconds for each image.

PechaKucha Night Rockland spans the midcoast, from Thomaston to Belfast, and strengthens community by bringing people of all ages together to consider ideas and images presented by various creative makers and thinkers in our area. While grounded in the visual arts, PechaKucha Night Rockland is open to a spectrum of imaginative endeavors and encourages visual storytelling as a way of sharing personal projects and introducing fresh perspectives. The organizing partners hope the evenings will result in new connections, deepened discussions, and in some cases, lead to future projects and collaborations.

What to Present? For the March 26th event at the Lincoln Street Center in Rockland, the selection committee is looking for a range of work from designers, inventors, visual artists, architects, chefs, boatbuilders, etc. While the committee can only accept eight presenters for our March event, keep in mind that there will be more PechaKucha Night events in the midcoast area in 2010 and once you submit, you can be considered for future dates.

If you are interested in becoming a presenter at the March event, please email rockland@pechakuchamaine.org no later than Friday, February 26th with the following information: 1.) your name and contact information (mailing address, phone number, email), 2.) the medium you work in, 3.) a brief description of your work and your process, along with an overview of the story you’d like to tell (250 word maximum) and 4.) a link to your website or five low-resolution images of the work you'd like to present. Submissions received after February 26th will be considered for future PechaKucha Night events.

If you have any questions, please email rockland@pechakuchamaine.org

To learn more about Pecha Kucha International, see www.pecha-kucha.org or to see a list of past presenters, see http://www.pecha-kucha.org/night/rockland-maine/

Midcoast Magnet Open House

The Midcoast Magnet Board invites you to an Open House on February 23rd in Rockland. Come mingle, network, learn more about Midcoast Magnet and meet the Midcoast Magnet Board.

Event: Midcoast Magnet Open House
Date: Tuesday, February 23rd
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Location: Asymmetrick Arts
Address: 405 Main Street. Rockland, Maine

You can RSVP for the open house on our facebook page:
www.facebook.com/midcoastmagnet

Fishing for a future

Steve Page, founder and president of Maine’s Ocean Farm Technologies, and a former Pecha Kucha presenter has been featured in a MaineBiz article. Page's company is embarking in in a dome technology out at sea.

Check out this article and learn more about a local face of the creative economy!

Fishing for a future | Mainebiz

Vote For Rockland, Maine

Rockland has been named one of 12 Distinctive Destinations in the US by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Farnsworth Museum was also listed as a major attraction.

Rockland needs you votes! Sign in once and vote as often as you'd like. Go to www.preservationnation.org . There's a chance to win two nights in a Historic Hotel of America.

Rockland is currently #2 and needs your votes!

Click here to see a video about Rockland

Collaboration is Key

Written By Amber Heffner
From Little Harbor Technology's Blog

I had a meeting today in Augusta on behalf of Midcoast Magnet with our partners for Juice 2.0. This was our wrap up meeting to identify success but maybe better opportunities for improvement. The meeting started off with a bang with Donna McNeil from the Maine Arts Commission (MAC), a true whirling dervish of a force, said "we are in for Juice 3.0 with the same resources and financial commitment." What a great way to start our meeting.

In attendance was a good crew from Midcoast Magnet, also a good crew from MAC and then the Maine Development Foundation or more specifically Ed Cervone. We talked about what worked with Juice 2.0 and where were the opportunities to make the next Juice even better. We focused in on goals, opportunities, quality, and direction. Excellent points were made as to how to hone in and produce a better quality conference in 2011.

As much as I suspect we all need a break from Juice, the positive energy around the conference was such that we are all willing to jump on board now. That is amazing to me. And even if we don't each have the drive personally right this second, together Juice 3.0 will be more than amazing. That is energizing, rewarding, and something to look forward to.

Thanks to our Juice partners. Thanks to successful collaborations. Time flies, look for updates for November 11 & 12, 2011.