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Berkshire Creative Highlights ProgressBy Jen Thomas - November 06, 2007
GREAT BARRINGTON - Seven months after unveiling their strategic plan for helping develop the "creative cluster" in the region, the Berkshire Creative Economy Project's founders last week held a briefing on the project's success thus far.
Calling the growing creative economy "one of the most important economic engines in the county," Laurie Norton Moffatt, the director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, and Ellen Spear, president and CEO of Hancock Shaker Village, updated a small crowd about the progress of the project at Bard College at Simon's Rock.
"We're moving into the implementation phase now," said Helena Fruscio, the program coordinator for the project's recently formed Berkshire Creative Economy Council.
This new phase means moving forward with specific actions that will fulfill the council's mission "to stimulate new job growth and economic opportunity in the region by sparking innovative collaborations between artists, designers, cultural institutions and businesses."
Berkshire Creative
Announced along with the Berkshire Blueprint action plan for economic development on March 9, Berkshire Creative's report outlined the importance of allowing artists, nonprofits and businesses to work collaboratively on supporting the region's creative endeavors. An attempt to recognize the potential of the cultural renaissance, the report calls for specific actions that will prove the sustainability of the creative economy.
"We have great benefits here in Berkshire County because we've had a creative class hidden in the hills here for years," said Spear at the briefing.
According to the report, the creative economy is defined as "the enterprises and people involved in the production and distribution of goods and services in which the aesthetic, intellectual and emotional engagement of the consumer gives the product value in the marketplace."
During last week's briefing, Norton Moffatt and Spear said the creative economy accounts for 10 percent of the job base, providing employment for 6,000 people in the county.
"Because of our unique attributes in Berkshire County, we've been able to drive cultural tourism," said Norton Moffatt. "That's another 15 percent of the job base."
Since releasing the report, the project's main focus has been the formation of working groups designed to perpetuate the creative economy's scope and influence. From the working groups – whose concentrations include organizing countywide celebrations of art, connecting entrepreneurs with budding creators and educating the community on the future of the creative economy – a coordinated movement toward promoting this new model will be established.
As one of the pioneers of this type of business model, Berkshire Creative faces unique challenges in attempting to forge a new landscape.
"We're still in the infancy of coordinating this effort and this isn't just a local movement. Not only is it a statewide issue, there are nationwide conferences on the creative economy. Where we may be ahead of others, though, is that we have an implementation plan, a strategic plan," said Norton Moffatt.
"The line we're walking is completely new. There's no models. We're really at the forefront of it. That's what makes it exciting but challenging at the same time," said Fruscio.
Originally funded by a $150,000 John Adams Innovation Institute grant through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the project has continued to grow throughout this year, receiving a $100,000 Massachusetts Cultural Council matching grant in August.
As the project moves forward, it has specific goals:
●Develop a unified Berkshire brand
●Educate the community about the economic potential of its creative sector
●Identify collaborative opportunities
●Attract investment
"We have to send the message that this is an opportunity to think a new way," said Norton Moffatt.
For more on the Berkshire Creative Economy Project, go to www.berkshireedc.com/
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