"Creative City" as an Economic Development Strategy - or Why we should invest in ideas, not industry; in people, not companies

This was a talk I presented to the Winstons Breakfast Club October 16, 2003, and subsequently at the January 14, 2004 Chamber of Commerce luncheon when the scheduled speaker's plane did not arrive. Some exerpts:

Different economies require different approaches to building them, and they are built on different concepts. If we want to build an industrial economy we can't use the strategies of an agricultural age to grow it. Today we have what I call a Creative/Knowledge Economy that is different from the economies of the past. We need to understand how this economy is built and what drives it in order to grow it.

To succeed in this Creative/Knowledge economy, we’re going to have to ensure that we not only have a decent business climate, but more importantly, an excellent people climate. While there have been initiatives to make Prince George "open for business" and "business friendly" there has few if any corresponding "open for creativity" and "creative friendly" initiatives at City Hall.

The fact is talented people are attracted to cities with status, amenities, creativity and creative energy, diversity, and quality of place.

I suggest we are weak in many of those areas so highly esteemed by the creative class, and we need to do better.

I suggest we make a sincere effort to become a Creative City, one that goes out of its way to encourage and support creativity of all kinds, and one that is know for its high creative energy. This means finding ways to invest in creative infrastructure, from large items like a Performing Arts Centre and significant aesthetic improvements to downtown, to supporting and nurturing a thriving music scene. Prince George must develop a strong creative culture, one that values ideas and the sharing of ideas, to a higher degree than other jurisdictions.

Full article here.