The Creative and Cultural Economy

As part of its non-profit mission to preserve historic Fort Missoula, while helping Missoula’s NPO and artistic community to better flourish, the Northern Rockies Heritage Center at Fort Missoula is making available for rental at…

With little fanfare, the Montana Summer Symphony announced on Friday that it has played its postlude and is dissolving. By EVE BYRON – IR Staff Writer The organization, which brought western-themed songs to an outdoor…

How will this promote diversity? Will this appeal to young people? Will this magnify what is authentic about our city?’ Richard has put these issues on the agenda of America’s cities, and I applaud him for it. Anyone who cares about cities should," Colletta says.

"Be hip and they will come" "Bill Gates is pushing 50," says Joe Cortright, head of Impresa Inc., an economic consulting firm in Portland, Ore. "The next big companies that get started will probably not get started by baby boomers."

As for advice, Young simply encourages others to apply for the award. "There are tons of people in Montana who are doing good work with no funding, no recognition. I’d love to see them get more involved. I mean, if we could win this … "

Cities might not be able to intentionally replicate such success, but they can work at cultivating a more conducive climate for innovation, says Rod Frantz, president of the Richard Florida Creativity Group.

"Cities have to be embracing of their entire population, because you never know where the next Andy Warhol or Bill Gates or Georgia O’Keefe is going to come from," he observes.

His advice to young artists: start out with an open view, visit trade shows and galleries to see what’s out there, then find a niche within your craft that needs to be filled. And be prepared to work long hours, understand your market and believe in your work.

"There’s so many things that we do," Robinson said. "Missoula’s such a vibrant community and I think we can participate in kind of unique ways with for-profits and nonprofits. That’s what our dream is for this place."

“This has been an exciting endeavor for us,” Sutton said. “We sold 15 percent of our paintings on the opening night in Dublin, and the interest has continued to intensify. There is genuine interest in Western art among serious collectors in Ireland.”

The report also comes as some community leaders are working to form a statewide association for non-profit organizations, following what many other states have done to strengthen the sector and raise its profile.

Forum speakers called on businesses and government to take a larger role in helping non-profit groups, financially and otherwise. They also encouraged non-profits to help themselves by banding together with such an association.