Otis College of Art and Design Zeroes in on LA's Creative Engine

Today my alma mater hosted an impressive morning gathering at the Skirball Cultural Center. Art nonprofit organizations, mayors, business CEOs, cultural commissioners, educators, fine and performing artists came to hear Otis College of Art and Design President Sammy Hoi give an eye-opening presentation. It definitely woke up anybody feeling sleepy due to the early hour. One wondered, will artists and designers rescue the economy?

We've been hearing more and more about the creative economy. Some communities -- Austin, TX, Fairfax, VA and Asheville, NC come to mind -- have made a conscious commitment to invest in their creative economies. They are drawing in those types of folks to form a lively community. In fact, the first-ever "National Conference on the Creative Economy" for the business community was held in Fairfax in 2007, drawing such popular economic speakers as Richard Florida and Thomas Friedman.

Now at long last, the original city built on creativity has our own report. Otis has headed a study tying actual numbers to the financial engine that creativity-based jobs generate in the Los Angeles region. If there's any doubt about this importance, putting dollar figures to it brings clarity. That an art college has taken the lead to identify this for the city made me proud. I was very surprised that it hadn't been generated by the Chamber of Commerce or the Mayor's office.

There's plenty of good news to report. But of course, as a long-time art educator, I wring my hands over the lack of substantial school art programs. That was brought up as recommendation in need of overhaul. It just astounds me that Texas not only has maintained their programs, but in the districts where I worked, they wouldn't have thought of building a new elementary school without an art room. In the last district where I was, they always build two art and two music rooms in each elementary school!! And that's not only in the richest part of town, but in every neighborhood. Folks, we can do this here! We've got a magnificent creative economy to maintain.

Okay, enough of the soap box. Let me share some of the items that jumped out at me during the two hour presentation.