Alliances

1
Alliances
Creative

• How Colleges and Universities Contribute to the
  Creative Economy

Susan Christopherson Susan Monagan May 3,
2005 Ithaca
2
What is a Creative Economy?

• Creative Sector Synergy among partners in the
  applied arts
• _Nonprofit cultural organizations
• _Commercial enterprises
• _Individual artists and self-employed creative
  professionals

3
A Creative Economy
Recognizes the role of creative workers as one
of the critical segments of the regions
workforce. Examines the importance of arts and
culture in contributing to a regions quality of
life - an increasingly important factor in
defining the competitiveness of communities.
4
Why a Creative Economy Approach in New York?

• _Strong Institutional Assets
• _Desire to Attract and Retain Younger Workers
• _Improvement in the Quality of Life for Current
  Residents

5
www.nycreativeeconomy.cornell.edu
Our Project

• _Survey of 33 Upstate Colleges and Universities
• _Survey of Directors of local Arts Councils
  across the state
• _Empire State Survey of How Access to Cultural
  Activities Affects Residence Choice
• _Technical Assistance to Colleges and Communities
• _Analysis of Creative Industry Clusters

6
Creative Alliances

• How Colleges and Universities Contribute to the
  Creative Economy

Susan Christopherson Susan Monagan May 3 2005
7
Colleges favor

• _Engaging with Local Primary Secondary Schools
• _Art Shows
• _Festivals

8
Colleges Agree that Cultural Projects are
Successful because they have

• _A basis in existing cooperative relationships
• _Leadership from the College
• _Address and meet both community needs the
  institutions educational mission

9
Problems that Limit Participation
State, private, and mixed
10
Potential Paths to Improvement
11
Strategy 1 Filling a Critical Need for
Performance Space

• College Finger Lakes Community College

_Cooperation between the Rochester Philharmonic
and FLCC _Led to creation of a Dedicated Summer
Performance Venue (FLPAC) _Latest Developments
indicate cluster buy-in
12
Strategy 2 Extending Educational Partnerships to
Cultural Institutions

• Campus Colgate University

Build a regional partnership in arts
presentation, including local individuals and
cultural institutions _Upstate Institute
_Oneida Community _Local Collector
13
Strategy 3 Creative Organizational Design

• Campus Onondaga Community College

A committee composed of college and community
members oversees a cultural programming fund that
develops relevant programming, builds audiences,
and strengthens partnerships. Added benefit
builds capacity for community collaboration.
14
Strategy 4 Making the campus visible and
accessible

• Campus SUNY Geneseo
• _Gauging and addressing off-campus perception
• _Investing in arts buildings downtown
• _Making the resources of the institution
  available to community members
• _Outreach marketing

15
The Big Message

• Collaboration builds mutual trust, puts meat on
  the bones of institutional mission, and lays
  groundwork for future interactions. Support for
  collaboration from administrative leadership is
  crucial, telegraphing the value of cultural
  programming and college-community programming to
  staff, faculty and community members.

16
Alliances
Creative

• How Colleges and Universities Contribute to the
  Creative Economy

Susan Christopherson Susan Monagan May 3,
2005 Ithaca