Creative Places + Spaces: The Collaborative City

Creative Places + Spaces is one of the world's leading forums on creativity. Under the theme of 'The Collaborative City', this year's event will engage global perspectives on collaboration and connect them with local change makers. Come meet some of the most creative thinkers in Toronto's exploration of the art and science of collaboration. Why Are We Doing This? The new imperative to collaborate is rooted in the need to solve persistent multi-dimensional problems and a growing appreciation of how collaboration fuels innovation. It is blurring boundaries between audience and creator, inspiring us to build infrastructure differently, and forcing us to think about new ways of doing things. In businesses, governments and NGO’s, people are being called upon to break out of their silos, rise above self-interest for the common good, and get creative with their colleagues in other departments and sectors. What’s The Challenge? While collaboration for collective interest sounds good in principle, it is easier said than done. Conflicting interests, egos, cultural barriers, and exposure to liability are among the things that can make it hard to find common ground. Difficulties posed by collaboration tend to reinforce conventional approaches and as Jane Jacobs used to say, “squelch creativity”. What is needed is a new way of thinking: one that recognizes that successful collaboration may require different approaches to: leadership, design, facilitation, risk analysis, diversity, infrastructure and technology. While the imperative to collaborate may be stronger than ever, the thinking and practice about how to do this effectively is not as widespread. Who is producing Creative Places + Spaces? Creative Places + Spaces is presented by Artscape, in collaboration with MaRS, Martin Prosperity Institute, and the City of Toronto - Economic Development, Culture & Tourism. www.creativeplacesandspaces.ca