News Release

EVENT NEWS/September 18, 2007

Creative Economy Workshop Open to Area Businesses

Boise State University’s Centre for Creativity and Innovation will hold the fourth annual Creative Economy Workshop on Oct. 17 at the new WaterCooler building in downtown Boise. This year’s theme is how communities and organizations spark creativity and economic vitality. Representatives from business, the arts, government and education are invited to participate.

The workshop is part of ongoing efforts to develop Boise as a creative economic hub. Nancy Napier, a professor of international business at Boise State and director for the centre, is organizing the workshop. It is one of a few workshop series on creative economies in the United States.

The Treasure Valley is a pioneer in the creative economy because of its entrepreneurial spirit, creative talent and quality of life, Napier said, along with intriguing collaborations across the arts, business, government and education that attract dynamic people and organizations.

The workshop will include:
• Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, who will open the workshop and talk about the importance of creative community initiatives for Boise
• Regional and national speakers from organizations like libraries and museums who will talk about how such organizations help spark creativity and economic development in communities
• Boise-based author of Building Community in Building Jana Kemp will talk about how workplace environment and buildings can help (or hurt) creativity and innovation and economic output
• Representatives from some of Boise’s coolest companies, such as PakSense, Keynetics and Balihoo, will reveal what they are doing to boost creativity and innovation
• Throughout the day discussion facilitators will help participants identify key points that they can take away for their organizations
• A WaterCooler reception at day’s end will allow participants and others to share ideas and spark more creativity and innovation

The workshop will run from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the WaterCooler, 14th and Idaho in Boise. The cost is $199 and includes lunch and an evening reception. Space for the workshop is limited, but organizers are seeking a diverse mix of organizations to create the best results. For more information or to register, call 426-4205, send e-mail to lorriebyerly@boisestate.edu or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu/create!Idaho.

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Media Contact: Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208) 426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu

For the 10th time in the last 11 years, Boise State University has set an all-time record for Idaho higher education institutions with an enrollment of 19,540 – an overall increase of 3.5 percent. A record freshman class of 2,280 students is also the most academically talented group ever to enter Boise State, including 12 National Merit finalists.
 

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Last reviewed on Tuesday, September 18, 2007