potters, painters, women who can and men who cook: music teachers, art
teachers, leather crafters, fly tiers, knitters, lace makers, tatters, re-enactors,
story tellers, writers, dancers, inventors, tinkerers, architects, designers, engi-
neers are all creatives. It should be obvious from this incomplete list: There are
a LOT of creative people in Northeast Louisiana.
teachers, leather crafters, fly tiers, knitters, lace makers, tatters, re-enactors,
story tellers, writers, dancers, inventors, tinkerers, architects, designers, engi-
neers are all creatives. It should be obvious from this incomplete list: There are
a LOT of creative people in Northeast Louisiana.
Where do they congregate to share their crafts, skills, and knowledge? Where
do they go to draw inspiration from each other and their work? That place is
Starr Homeplace; at least it could be! That is what we offer.
do they go to draw inspiration from each other and their work? That place is
Starr Homeplace; at least it could be! That is what we offer.
There is not now a place where all the cultural assets and organizations can
work together to market our REGION. We would like to organize conferences
where scheduling and marketing for events and festivals could be done jointly.
A newsgroup could be created and all upcoming events scheduled to prevent
conflicts, so that there was something going on every weekend rather than con-
flicting things on just a few. All regional information could be gathered and
provided to all news outlets uniformly on a weekly basis. This is not an
expensive idea - but it does require time and manpower. Shared assets could
be rotated across the region and regional archives of photos, stories and art-
work could be created to provide excitement at events and special showings.
work together to market our REGION. We would like to organize conferences
where scheduling and marketing for events and festivals could be done jointly.
A newsgroup could be created and all upcoming events scheduled to prevent
conflicts, so that there was something going on every weekend rather than con-
flicting things on just a few. All regional information could be gathered and
provided to all news outlets uniformly on a weekly basis. This is not an
expensive idea - but it does require time and manpower. Shared assets could
be rotated across the region and regional archives of photos, stories and art-
work could be created to provide excitement at events and special showings.
When thoughtful, creative people begin to assemble and discuss ideas, a kind
of synergy develops. Some of us experienced this in college. Adults, with
experience and expertise under their belts, have no place to go for this kind of
creative synergy. The broader the range of interests represented, the more
opportunities for synergies of ideas to develop, especially where heritage tech-
nologies meet new technologies. Where their are no parts available, and no
maps are at hand, new ideas have to be created. What we hope to do with the
creative community is begin to build a creative economy. Once it begins,
especially when our ideas and activities produce jobs, perhaps patents and
copyrights, the attitudes of creativity will be poised to affect the governmental
and educational reforms that are needed in our region. If the creative economy
is going to take off, we need to offer marketing support, micro loans, copyright
and patent assistance. This creative economy of inventive thought, born of
group creative synergy, is the big long-term jackpot toward which all our
efforts are directed. We don‘t know what the new ideas will be, or they
wouldn’t be new ideas.
of synergy develops. Some of us experienced this in college. Adults, with
experience and expertise under their belts, have no place to go for this kind of
creative synergy. The broader the range of interests represented, the more
opportunities for synergies of ideas to develop, especially where heritage tech-
nologies meet new technologies. Where their are no parts available, and no
maps are at hand, new ideas have to be created. What we hope to do with the
creative community is begin to build a creative economy. Once it begins,
especially when our ideas and activities produce jobs, perhaps patents and
copyrights, the attitudes of creativity will be poised to affect the governmental
and educational reforms that are needed in our region. If the creative economy
is going to take off, we need to offer marketing support, micro loans, copyright
and patent assistance. This creative economy of inventive thought, born of
group creative synergy, is the big long-term jackpot toward which all our
efforts are directed. We don‘t know what the new ideas will be, or they
wouldn’t be new ideas.
A distant kinsman of mine was the Comptroller for Phillips Petroleum for
many years, and Mayor of it‘s home town as well. His wife had been Tallulah
Bankhead’s roommate and did most of the talking, but when “Dad” did talk, it
was worth hearing. On his 95th birthday he was asked what was the most
valuable lesson he had learned. Some time later, after seeming to ignore the
question, he leveled his gaze and said “Flexibility.”
many years, and Mayor of it‘s home town as well. His wife had been Tallulah
Bankhead’s roommate and did most of the talking, but when “Dad” did talk, it
was worth hearing. On his 95th birthday he was asked what was the most
valuable lesson he had learned. Some time later, after seeming to ignore the
question, he leveled his gaze and said “Flexibility.”
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