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The Daily Photoist: November 25, 2009
When Adil Dhalla and Adam Ben-Aron think about the future, they envision a world that heralds the creativity they believe will end this recession. Inspired by a grassroots, bottom-up mentality, both men are tired of hearing about what the government can do to save people from the crisis and about how quickly the economy is deteriorating. "We're constantly hearing about banks and layoffs; there's a sense that the recession is taking a toll on us,” Dhalla said. “I like the idea of turning it around [and saying], 'Look, we can kill it.'"
To ignite a new wave of creativity and to bolster what already exists, Dhalla and Ben-Aron have started an online community called Creativity Killed the Recession. They've also set up a weekly meeting time for creative strangers to come together and chat. Described as "networking meets support group meets think tank," the first of these gatherings took place last night at Ein-Stein Café & Pub on College Street. Heading into the night, Dhalla was unsure of what to expect, telling himself that "it may just be good conversation with people who have a similar passion"; by the end of the night, though, it was clear that this intelligent cross-talk was what everyone wanted. Focusing on the night's overarching theme of "Ontario in the Creative Age,” the conversation effortlessly drifted into topics such as the societal opportunities that lie ahead for today's twenty-somethings.
Building on the foundation that they established last night, Dhalla and Ben-Aron will host Monday-night meetings from 6-8 p.m. on a weekly basis. But even though they've arranged these gatherings, neither of them wants to lead any future conversations or to preach to those who show up—in their minds, they're just the guys who set a meeting time and found a meeting place. "I would not call myself a creative person any more than anyone else," Dhalla said. "I honestly think that everyone has moments of creativity. The difference is the people who act upon it."
Although each week's meeting will centre on a different topic, anyone with a creative mindset is encouraged to attend—the chosen subjects will merely serve as talking points to help start a conversation with a stranger. An artist looking to put his or her work online may stumble into a chat with a web developer who can help him or her do so, and they may not discuss the points of interest whatsoever. As for those who can’t make the meetings, the Creativity Killed the Recession website is already up and running, and users are strongly encouraged to contribute to the message boards because Dhalla and Ben-Aron want Toronto’s creative individuals to take the site wherever they feel it should go. If it just so happens that you're someone who would like to be a part of this evolutionary journey, remember to ask yourself one question before you get involved: are you a killer?
Images courtesy of CreativityKilledtheRecession.com
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What a bunch of nonsense.
So a bunch of people gather at a bar and talk? Oh wait, maybe a web developer will be there? Sheesh.
Funny you should mention the Richard Florida's "creative" class" report that McGuinty commissioned for a couple of million -- as a "roadmap" it had some fairly obvious concepts (more money for education, encourage a smart economy) with almost no concrete ideas on how to make actually pay or implement for any of this. What an embarrassing waste of money.
Let us presume this is nonsense, bippers. Nonsense is to sense, as shade to light; it heightens effect. The point here is to encourage random introductions between a relatively diverse group of people. Will this be successful and/or useful? Who knows, and the answer would be highly dependent upon the breadth and scope of your definition of those two terms.
What I do know is I'll probably take the discussion at one of these events with more than the grain of salt I reserve for the celebrated and oh-so-serious group think that comes out of places like Davos. Those conferences appear to suffer from something similar to the Bystander Effect. The probability of something useful arising from such an event is inversely proportional to the collective intelligence and accomplishments of all the business, political, academic, and journalistic leaders that attend.
In fact, to avoid this sort of group think, I believe it would be a good idea for people like you, bippers, to attend. I'd rather that the discussion at an event like this be an exercise in comprehensive exploration of a topic rather than consensus-building.
I'm sorry, but I think you missed the point, Bippers.
I don't think they're trying to solve all the world's problems, but I think that they're trying to do something. Everyone is gloomy about the recession, but instead of doing nothing... They're trying *something*.
I think the idea is brilliant. Even if nothing earth shattering comes out of it, I think that it is pretty awesome that these guys are trying to create their way out of this mess.
I don't think I missed the point:
"...they envision a world that heralds the creativity they believe will end this recession" coming from a site called Creativity killed the Recession sounds awfully literal. To be fair, it's totally vague.
I suppose I shouldn't begrudge people chatting at a bar, but at its worst it sounds like liberal arts graduates clinging to the overstated notion of the "creative class" to make themselves feel better for having no hard real-world skills. It doesn't help that the report was expensive and almost useless.
Another problem is the label of "artists." Anyone can be an artist. There also isn't much money to be made, it's a fact that hasn't really changed for years. I know a lot of people scraping by as artists, but money still doesn't seem to be a big factor in whether they do art or not -- not so much as inspiration and hard work. I also know a lot of people (mostly from school) that are really good at writing arts grant proposals but they aren't very good artists by any standard.
Blanket statements of "more arts funding" sometimes doesn't cut it.
Sorry, I guess the arts funding comments were more directed at the comment below. Apologies.
First of all I know at least one of them is an applied science graduate. Your whole rant is based on speculation that these are some liberal types with stupid feel good ideas. I happen to know that this is mostly a carefully thought out idea.
Second I think that it is interesting that you are bashing a grass roots movement by people that are probably just as skeptical about government involvement in economic matters and the ability to make good policy decisions about these matters as you you are.
Check it out...like it or dislike it and then make an intelligent comment on the whole premise. No one benefits from your bashing of an idea with a presupposed argument. Only an ongoing discussion really helps.
Artists are among the poorest wage earners in this society as a number of studies have shown. Often working under short term contracts with no benefits, anyone requiring social assistance including professional artists, designers, composers, authors...etc, to cover basic needs is punished for working by the Province's own Ontario Works legistlation which claws back up to 100% of wages plus expenses!
The system fails to recognize occupational categories considered to be self-employment telling people with 25 years experience in the cultural sector to consider career changes. Some solution! People living in poverty for any length of time are arbitrarily refused training for more than a total of 2 weeks.
If the City of Toronto and Province wants to encourage creative solutions then it should stop forcing people in front of "tribunals" because their rent is above the paltry shelter allowance ($350 for a single person) and increase the poverty level wages that artists compete for in terms of project grants (mid-career artists $8000??).
Its no wonder that Ontario is encouraging organizations to import culture and the feds are funding international competitions to rev up tourism, real art always comes from somewhere else doesn't it?
Yes, artists should be convinced to think of themselves as victims instead of entrepreneurs. That's the kind of attitude we need to beat this recession!
I thought this was a Koodo ad.
Me too!
Guess it won't kill the recession, then.
I think this is great! If anyone's ever had a chance to read Dan Pink's 'A Whole New Mind', they may appreciate what is being done here. Artists and creative types have such a great opportunity to use their skills and talents outside of the traditional mediums, and this is one of those interesting opportunities to try that out.
I'm hoping I can find the time to check a meeting out.
I might go to the next meeting.
wow, this is actually pretty brilliant in theory
hi torontothegreat. i'm looking into the uneven enforcement of "illegal signs" in toronto and why that is happening.
i'm interested in talking with you through email if possible.
wcsl.05@gmail.com
thank you.
@bippers: Both Adil and Adam have their MBA, which I'm assuming you would consider acceptable for teaching real-world skills. And with regard to what you consider to be a vague description, I personally believe that creativity can't be forced. So to specify what exactly this creativity will be would be futile right now.
All I can say is, good luck with that recession!
From the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
I think it's important to recognize that Adil and Adam are not claiming to be creative genius' who have found a cure for the recession, merely a couple of guys who acted on a creative idea - something we don't do often enough. Great work guys.
I know I'll be at the next meeting.
From the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
I think it's important to recognize that Adil and Adam are not claiming to be creative genius' who have found a cure for the recession, merely a couple of guys who acted on a creative idea - something we don't do often enough. Great work guys.
I know I'll be at the next meeting.
From the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
I think it's important to recognize that Adil and Adam are not claiming to be creative genius' who have found a cure for the recession, merely a couple of guys who acted on a creative idea - something we don't do often enough. Great work guys.
I know I'll be at the next meeting.
So a bunch of people with a vague interest in creativity and no particular agenda are going to go drinking? We used to do that weekly when I was in school but we never solved no recessions.