How is creativity defined? One
definition is that “creativity is the ability to produce something that is
novel or original, and useful or adaptive.” This sounds simple enough but how
is that “something” achieved? The creative spark is often depicted as an “aha”
or “eureka” experience, when in reality there may have been years of thought,
hard work and experimentation were needed to arrive at that one moment.[1] The
origins of creativity remain elusive. Researchers still cannot name the
specific combination of biological and environmental factors that produce
creative brains. From the standpoint of economic development, the question of
origination is less important than the question of whether creativity can be
learned or taught and then nurtured.
A second question is whether or not
creativity in the arts can be equated with creativity in the sciences or in
business, or should the latter two groups be considered separately? Is
innovation in the sciences or business the same as artistic creativity or is it
something altogether different? Research suggests that the process of creation
(or innovation) in all three activities is largely the same: preparation,
incubation, inspiration (the eureka moment) and production. The same, ongoing,
iterative process is essential to many forms of creativity whether it be
composing an orchestral work or revealing the structure of the universe.[2]
Creativity is one of the Los Angeles
region’s foremost economic assets and the creative
economy is undeniably important to the region’s economic growth. In
research conducted by the LAEDC for Otis College of Art and Design, the
creative economy is defined as the businesses and individuals involved in
producing cultural, artistic, and design goods and services. It consists of
creative professionals and enterprises that take powerful, original ideas and
transform them into practical and often beautiful goods, or inspire us with
their artistry.
It also includes organizations that
provide a venue for artists to share their work with the public such as
museums, art galleries and theaters. Finally, it includes activities one does
not instinctively associate with creativity, such as apparel, toy and furniture
manufacturing - all industries that depend on good design.
In a broader sense, the creative economy
must include a support system that teaches, nurtures and sustains creative
activity: arts programs in K-12 schools, post-secondary arts institutions to
develop talent, and philanthropic foundations along with other nonprofit
funding organizations to provide financial resources, incentives, and services
to the creative arts.
In today’s economy, the market value
of products and services is increasingly determined by a product’s uniqueness,
performance and aesthetic appeal. More companies are seeking employees with
creativity as well as problem solving and communications skills. Business
location decisions are also influenced by factors such as the availability of a
creative workforce and the quality of life available to employees. The talent
that drives the creative economy provides a competitive advantage that reaches
across almost every industry in the Los Angeles region.
Regions acquire a competitive
advantage when they attract creative employees because creative thinkers
encourage innovation which fosters economic growth. Furthermore, the creative
talent pool in a region is not as vulnerable to going “offshore”. Historically,
the development of advanced technologies that increase productivity was seen as
a pathway to better jobs, but that is no longer necessarily true. Many advanced
technologies can be replicated across the world using cheaper labor or even
automation. But original artistic creation, innovative design and other
higher-level creative work cannot be outsourced so easily. Creativity builds
both brand awareness and attracts talented people to a dynamic environment.
Although entertainment is the most visible creative industry in Los Angeles,
one can find creative individuals working in nearly every industry in the
region.
In 2013, there were 407,000
individuals directly employed in the creative industries of Los Angeles and
Orange Counties, equivalent to over seven percent of wage and salary employment.
The creative industries also employ a large number of independent contractors
(over 161,000), significantly boosting total employment and income numbers. Altogether,
the creative economy generated a net economic contribution equivalent nearly
eleven percent of the region’s gross product.
Because creativity is a dynamic
function of humanity, the creative economy is a vibrant and vital force in
society. Intellectual and aesthetic sensibilities lead individuals to express
themselves through the arts, solve problems through design, and seek out what
is beautiful and original. The Los Angeles region is unique because of its
combination of place, resources and open attitudes toward new ideas. This
openness to new ideas and the ability to make associations and connections that
other people do not see is one of the defining characteristics of creativity.
Here, new ideas are constantly given
form and brought to life by creative people, not just in the arts but in many
industries that make up the economy of the Los Angeles region.
No comments:
Post a Comment