Maine

1
Maines Creative Economy

• Governors Council on Quality of Place
• June 19, 2007

2
Arts and culture sectors reflect the uniqueness
of their regions. They are largely place-based
and celebrate the heritage, history, and
landscapes of place in ways that emphasize the
unique features of communities.--Maines
Creative Economy Council
3
Where we came from

• Seminal Research
• Commitment by Governor Baldacci
• Blaine House Conference
• Maine Creative Economy Council

4
Defining Creative Economy

• Arts and Culture
• Applied Arts
• Crafts
• Education
• Heritage
• Independent Artists
• Literary Arts
• Media
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts

• Technology
• Advanced Materials
• Agriculture and Forest Products
• Biotechnology
• Information Technology
• Marine Technology and Aquaculture
• Precision Manufacturing

5
Economic Impact of Creative Economy

• Total creative economy employment only slightly
  smaller than Maines manufacturing sector
• More employees in arts and culture sector than
  wood products manufacturing
• Arts and culture sector is growing fastest in
  rural counties
• Creative economy is a large and important part of
  Maines economy!

6
Challenges to Maines Creative Economy Effort

• How to effectively integrate arts and culture and
  technology
• How to foster connections
• How to sustain it

7
Challenge integrating arts and culture and
technology

• Arts and culture businesses have become
  technology entrepreneurs
• Both rely on highly-skilled, creative workers
• Creative workers are attracted by quality of
  place, but need jobs too!
• Conclusion Maines creative economy work needs
  to embrace the technology sector and arts and
  culture sector must expand to provide the
  amenities creative workers desire

8
Challenge fostering connections

• Creative sector tends to be dispersed
• Clusters foster innovation and attract new
  businesses
• Artisan-based manufacturers may be ripe
• Conclusion Maine needs to exploit the
  opportunities created by artisan-based businesses
  and foster connections, collaboration, and
  integration

9
Challenge - sustaining Maines creative economy
effort

• Programs are dispersed
• Momentum slows over time
• Need community leaders to sustain Maines
  creative economy
• Conclusion Maine needs a coordinating mechanism
  to build and sustain creative communities

10
Recommendations

• Foster cluster-like connections for artisan-based
  manufacturers
• Bring in the technology sector
• Support networking opportunities
• Consider university CENTRO model
• Support the development of creative communities
• Invest in and expand Maine Downtown Center
• Provide special events grants to communities
• Develop model ordinance language for mixed-use
  zoning

11
Conclusionsrepeated

• Creative economy is a large and growing part of
  Maines economy
• Maines creative economy is integral to quality
  of place
• Council should build creative economy strategies
  into its action plan