42 ways to improve Philly’s creative economy

Anyone expecting an inefficient city meeting was pleasantly mistaken.
Despite the snow, The Center for Architecture at 12th and Arch was nearly filled to capacity for a town hall meeting called by the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy to discuss its Creative Vitality in Philadelphia report.

“Ed Rendell would be proud of us tonight,” said Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer of Philadelphia referencing the former mayor’s recent rant.
Each attendee received a copy of the report that found that the city’s creative economy is 70 percent stronger than the national average, though the city lags behind in its number of creative sector jobs (read the full report here). Technically Philly covered the release of the report in December.
The report was complied from 2006 – 2008, before the “Great Recession.”
After a slideshow with detailed report metrics and a brief introduction by Coucilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, the majority of the event was set aside for brainstorming ways the city can help foster the creative economy.
All suggestions from the night’s fast-moving brainstorming session were written down and attendees were encouraged to vote on their favorites by placing one of four dot stickers next to their favorite. See the complete list of 42 suggestions below:


Brainstorming topics ranged from putting more art on SEPTA trains to creating a “giant iPad” to display the schedule of arts and culture events. Many of the suggestions asked for more support from the private sector though legislation and tax incentives.
The office asked that creative business post a profile of their business and keep sharing ideas through the #CVIPhilly hashtag on Twitter. The city admitted it would not be able to act on every suggestion but would do its best to pick a handful to implement.
Watch the close of the event below:
http://www.viddler.com/player/f18b5979/