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What makes successful economies? I like Richard Florida’s famous 3Ts of economic development: talent, technology, and tolerance. It’s a catchy mnemonic that explains his global-creativity index and the measures for which “spiky” communities outrank other cities of comparable size around the world. The highest-ranking cities are magnets for the “Creative Class” (hence the growing or spiky populations). Each of the three qualities is necessary but by itself is insufficient, he writes in The Rise of the Creative Class. A place must have all three “to attract creative people, generate innovation, and stimulate economic growth.”
In his new book, The Flight of the Creative Class, he examines the mobility of these people. He quotes famous modern-dance choreographer Martha Graham to make the point: “There is nothing so revealing as movement.” In simple terms, the most desirable people for creating wealth can work anywhere in the world, and, therefore, communities that attract and retain them will prosper.
I recently sat on a panel in Moncton about the arts in successful communities, and I thought about Florida and Graham. The occasion was the fifth-anniversary celebration of the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada (ABTC), which was featured in the January/February edition of Progress. A cultural gem such as the ABTC—a unique blend of dance and theatre—is what Florida is talking about when he claims that the “SOB triumvirate” of the performing arts doesn’t cut it anymore for the Creative Class (he means the old-style barometer of cultured cities that must contain a symphony, opera, or ballet).
While the ABTC is true to the discipline of its traditional art form, it is also accessible to a broad audience and truly contemporary. As its touring schedule
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expands, it has the potential to do for Atlantic Canada’s cultural brand what Cirque du Soleil has done for Canada. And it is a talent magnet and an economic engine in its own right. First, the ABTC is composed of highly mobile artists who could be performing anywhere. It attracts technical, musical, and other creative collaborators. Its existence makes Moncton more attractive to other members of the Creative Class who are fuelling the area’s burgeoning high-tech and health care sectors. And finally, such cultural entities are valuable partners for progressive businesses to invest philanthropic dollars for mutual benefit.
Such virtuous wealth-creation circles are taking place all over the region, as more and more of us are turning our passions into prosperity. To continue on the Richard Florida theme, he used to conduct a straw poll whenever he gave a talk to see which career was more appealing to audiences: a job for life in a machine shop or an insecure job in a hair salon. The hair salon won every time, because it was seen as “more creative, exciting, and satisfying.”
This made me think of Halifax hairstylist Fred Connors, who is spearheading the renaissance of an emerging creative enclave in the city’s North End with his eponymous salon/café known as FRED. He found success simply by doing what he has always done (hair, advice, design) and bigging it up. (Disclosure: I have been known to need a Fred fix from time to time.) Entrepreneurs such as Connors are the Creative Class in action.
So welcome toThe People Issue. Inside we feature 20 other hand-picked examples of the region’s best and brightest, starting on page 29. Each is making progress in his or her sphere of influence that is having repercussions throughout the region—in some cases, around the world. Enjoy. |
