LEXINGTON, KY - Added today to the calendar of one of Lexington's busiest event years in memory is a 3-day April conference programmed to focus on ways to encourage and nurture a city's many creative talents - critical to adapting to changing times, but especially essential in a troubled economy.
The Creative Cities Summit will convene in Lexington, Kentucky April 7-9, 2010 it was announced today at a joint press conference by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry.
Summit organizers chose as a setting for the briefing one of downtown Lexington's newest restaurant and entertainment venues, the many-windowed Baker's 360 perched high atop the Chase Bank building in space formerly occupied by the Lafayette Club and overlooking this central Kentucky city in all directions.
"The opportunity to host this summit is a credit to our city and the progress we have made. It will give us an opportunity to shine the national spotlight on our creative community. It will also bring in important new ideas so we can build an even stronger community," said Newberry who presides over a municipal government that relies on payroll taxes -and economic prosperity- for 83 percent of its operating revenues. Just prior to the press conference, the Mayor had addressed the city via GTV3 to spell out the impacts of city budget cuts in the face of an almost $14-million revenue shortfall in the current budget.
Previously held in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2004 and Detroit, Michigan in 2008, the 3-day Summit, an interdisciplinary conference on the 21st century issues challenging evolving communities, draws speakers and attendees from all over the world to discuss savvy economic development; how to develop environments supportive of innovation; transportation; sustainability; adaptive reuse and the built environment; the role and value of public art in a community's quality of life; and the nurturing of local cultural assets.
"This summit will provide an opportunity for collaborative brainstorming that will strengthen both cultural dynamics and offer economic solutions," said Gov. Beshear. "By encouraging innovation and economic development, this summit will have an impact not just on Lexington but on the Commonwealth."
The event is sponsored by some of the region's key employers including Lexmark, The University of Kentucky, the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, Central Bank, Stoll Keenon Ogden, Columbia Gas. This publication's parent company, Smiley Pete Publishing, is the media sponsor. These and other public and private sector interests are looking to address persistent difficulties in the attraction and retention of "Creative Class" talent ranging from hi-tech entrepreneurs, urban planners and researchers to engineers, architects, artists. These professionals, considered a key driving force for economic development in the post-industrial cities of America include those working in healthcare, business and finance, the legal sector, and education. Highly educated, these talents are capable of drawing on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems.
Rise of the Creative Class
The Creative City
Scheduled to appear during the event at the Lexington Center are: renowned urban theorist Richard Florida, author of and Professor of Business & Creativity at the University of Toronto; Rebecca Ryan, founder of NextGeneration Consulting and an expert on issues confronting young professionals; Charles Landry, author of ; Bill Strickland, McArthur Genius Grant recipient, CEO of Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsman's Guild and Bidwell Training Center; and Lexington native Ben Self, co-founder of Blue State Digital which created Barack Obama's official campaign website. This international lineup will be joined by experts and practitioners from all over Kentucky and the region.
Summit organizers anticipate a diverse audience, ranging from economic development professionals and arts and cultural advocates to urban planners, architects, business leaders, government officials, young professionals, and college students. The common thread is a desire to make their communities better places to live, work and play.
Breakout sessions will focus on Social Media and the City; Mayors Panel featuring Lexington's Mayor Newberry, Mayor Elaine Walker (Bowling Green) and Mayor Jerry Abramson (Louisville); New Strategies for Economic Development; Best Practices in Young Professional Development; Nurturing Technology Entrepreneurs; Small Towns and the Rural Creative Economy; The Black Creative Class; Churches and The Creative City; and Developing Social Innovation.
The full conference package is available with early bird registration for $199. A limited number of scholarships will be available.
For more information go to http://www.creativecitieslexington.com