LCEF Staff Take Creative Action in Lafayette INNOV8 Event ...

Lafayette, LA? The Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation (LCEF) proudly participated in the ?successful INNOV8 conference held April 22?29, 2012 in Lafayette.? INNOV8, a project of the Innovation Division of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, is an eight-day festival of creativity and innovation focusing on digital interactive technology, arts, music, and entrepreneurship. INNOV8 brought together the best and brightest in a creative setting focused on learning and sharing ideas while serving as a conduit for creative thinking and a showcase for talented creatives who make Lafayette a unique place to live and work.

LCEF CEO Aimee Smallwood and Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, Executive Director of the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) provided closing remarks at the wrap-up reception held at AcA ?It was wonderful to be a small part of Innov8 and we congratulate Gerd and the Chamber team for their visionary effort to bring business and culture together,? Smallwood adds.

LCEF-HI Program Director Kathy Richard and LCEF-HI Program Coordinator Robert J. Wilson played key roles in planning and presenting Creative Economy Series .2: The Power of Creativity (CES.2) on behalf of Creative Action, a community group supporting the growth of Acadiana?s creative economy.? Creative Action was formed to engage Acadiana in a dialogue about creativity, diversity, and innovation as economic drivers in the region and works to connect creatives with local resources.

CES.2 was the second installment in a Creative Economy Series and consisted of professional development workshops, a lecture on contemporary art, and a fine art portfolio review.

Robert J. Wilson led a session for creatives on Establishing and Sustaining Creative Small Businesses, highlighting the unique needs of the creative entrepreneur from a wide array of disciplines.? ?Creative entrepreneurs often have a different mindset than their more traditionally industrial counterparts.? Both have valuable goods and services to bring to market, but creatives routinely view their contributions as something other than a commodity.? Overcoming the industrial bias and recognizing that creative industries account for well over 4% of global economic output is a challenge we can?t afford to overlook.? said Wilson.

Other sessions offered were:

• Becoming a Full-Time Music Professional
• Intellectual Property
• Grant Writing

Over-all, INNOV8 succeeded in showcasing Lafayette and Acadiana as a center of entrepreneurialism, demonstrating that Louisiana?s cultural economy produces solid business opportunities.

CES.2 was co-sponsored by Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette Economic Development Authority, The Elemore Morgan, Jr. Visual Arts Endowment, and AOC Community Media.

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