|
 CreativeTampaBay, founded in 2003, is a grassroots organization dedicated to connecting and energizing the community's assets to cultivate an environment that encourages innovation, expands the economy, and is a magnet for knowledge-based professionals and entrepreneurs who value and contribute to quality of place.
In April 2003, nearly five hundred people gathered at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to hear creative economy guru Dr. Richard Florida discuss what it takes to build a vibrant community in today's technology environment. This event was the result of a coalition of organizations involved in business and the arts in the Tampa Bay region: The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay Partnership, the Pinellas and Hillsborough Arts Councils, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Tampa Bay Technology Forum, and the Florida High Tech Corridor.
CreativeTampaBay was created to serve as a catalyst for perpetuating the energy and commitment of individuals and organizations in Tampa Bay who hope to see the region take full advantage of its unique heritage, geography, and economic strengths in building a creative economy.
According to the CreativeTampaBay website, Creativity is fundamental to being human and is a critical resource to individual, community and economic life. Creative communities are vibrant, humanizing places, nurturing personal growth, sparking cultural and technological breakthroughs, producing jobs and wealth, and accepting a variety of life styles and culture.
CreativeTampaBay has developed a set of principles for the cultivation of the economy. These principles are:
1. Cultivate and reward creativity
2. Invest in the infrastructure that fosters creativity
3. Embrace diversity
4. Support the connectors
5. Value risk-taking - convert a no climate into a yes climate
6. Be authentic
7. Invest in and build on quality of place
8. Remove barriers to creativity, such as mediocrity
9. Take personal responsibility for change in your community
10. Honor the creativity in every person.
CreativeTampaBay currently engages in a number of activities serving the region, including conducting research, hosting a weekly e-newsletter called the Buzz, convening community dialogues, maintaining CreativeTampaBay.com, and providing an opportunity for individuals and groups to promote their efforts and initiatives.
In September 2004, CreativeTampaBay hosted a Creative Cities Summit in St. Petersburg, Florida. The event drew 275 participants from as far away as Ontario, Canada, and Fresno, California. Keynote speakers included Richard Florida, Charles Landry, and Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood. The conference focused on how to put creative economy theories into practice, and highlighted real world examples from around the globe.
To learn more about CreativeTampaBay, visit the organization's website at www.CreativeTampaBay.com.
|
