Summit offers opportunities for local government, business leaders
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2015) — The Kentucky Creative Industry Summit, Nov. 12-13 at the Owensboro Convention Center, will present in-depth learning opportunities for elected officials, community leaders, businesses, tourism directors and economic development officials interested in maximizing their creative industry to diversify their local economies.
This two-day event comes almost one year after the release of the Kentucky Creative Industry Report. Since that time, the arts council has been acting on the recommendations included in its pages.
“Our Creative Industry Report was an important first step in recognizing the economic and social impact of the arts and Kentucky’s creative sector,” said Mary Michael Corbett, Kentucky Arts Council board chair. “Last year when the results were released, we were excited to learn that the creative sector had grown into one of the largest economic drivers in Kentucky.”
The arts council board deemed the upcoming summit important enough to sign on as a presenting sponsor.
“The Kentucky Arts Council board is committed to providing educational opportunities to galvanize broad-based support, increase our creative talent pool, explore how arts connect to other industries and develop strategies to grow our creative economy,” Corbett said. “Members of the council believe the Creative Industry Summit is the best way to accomplish this important mission. That’s why we stepped up to invest our own resources in spreading this important message.”
The summit is also an opportunity for groups that have a stake in a thriving creative industry—community development organizations, chambers of commerce, Main Street organizations, Trail Towns, city and county governments—to form strategic partnerships with individual artists and arts organizations in furthering community development efforts.
One group that sees the summit’s benefit is the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau. Even though the summit is in Owensboro, Paducah CVB signed on as a sponsor because “it’s the right thing to do,” said Mary Hammond, Paducah CVB executive director.
“There is great strength in a network committed to preservation of authentic heritage and cultural assets. As a UNESCO Creative City, many of the benefits Paducah has discovered through global relationships also apply to strengthening connections regionally,” Hammond said. “The Creative Industry Summit can foster that cooperation among our communities for sharing of knowledge and best practices, arts advocacy and continued growth.
“The Creative Industry Summit is an outstanding opportunity for stakeholders within the public and private sector to unite with artists and arts organizations. A collaborative perspective and approach to promoting cultural participation positions our communities to leverage creative assets for sustainable development and growth.”
Other Creative Industry Summit sponsors include presenting sponsor Berea College Crafts and sponsors Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the City of Owensboro, Daviess County Fiscal Court, the Appalachian Artisan Center, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center and the Kentucky Innovation Network-Owensboro.
For information about the Creative Industry Summit, contact Emily B. Moses, arts council creative industry manager, at 502-564-3757, ext. 472, or at [email protected]. Registration is available online or at the door during the summit.
Add Comment