The governor envisions an economy driven by creativity.
Bates Mill will be the site of Gov. John Baldacci’s conference to promote economic development based on the arts and creativity.
Organizers of the conference were looking for a nontraditional site for the Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy to emphasize the importance of culture and the arts in economic development. The mill, with its historical significance and its own on-going economic revival, was the pick.
“We thought we should put our money where our mouth is,” said Abbe Levin, special projects associate for the Maine Arts Commission, which is coordinating the event.
The focus of the May 7 conference is to develop strategies and policies that capture the full potential of Maine’s creative work force. About 500 people are expected to attend.
Levin said organizers were particularly impressed with the “friendly atmosphere” of the Twin Cities, as well as the willingness of local people to help pull the event together.
“We found a real partner in Tom Platz,” said Levin, referring to the mill developer.
Baldacci has been promoting a creative economy concept since he took office in January. The idea is to develop an economy driven by ideas rather than products. People who make a living as artists, Web designers, graphic artists, musicians, architects and others are an important component in the plan.
“It is my hope this initiative will lead Maine to a deeper understanding of the creative economy and the potential of it. The future prosperity of Maine depends on a highly educated and diverse workforce. Artists, designers, actors, musicians and all the cultural institutions are as important as the paper makers, the boat builders and all the other traditional workers of Maine,” Baldacci said in March when he announced formation of a committee to pull the conference together.
“The arts and culture are concentrated in Maine. We need to recognize that, take advantage of that and grow it even more as a critical feature, as we would a defense installation or our agricultural resources. The arts are a tremendous resource.”
Members of the conference steering committee will tour the mill soon, but expectations are that the event will be held in the 350,000-square-foot Bates Mill No. 5, the saw-tooth building near Lewiston’s gateway to Auburn.
“Arts are a big part of the resurgence here,” said Chip Morrison, president of the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce. He cited the developments at L/A Arts, St. Mary’s Franco-American Heritage Center, Public Theatre and Great Falls School.
“These are four facilities that are contributing to a creative-based economy, principally as performing arts,” he said. Morrison mentioned Lewiston’s selection as host of the conference at last week’s Chamber breakfast.
Currently, people who work in creative industries account for 2.2 percent of the state’s overall work force, or 14,000 total workers, according to U.S. Census figures.
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