ArtsDirectoryOfMuskoka.com

Our World is Changing. Our work is changing. Are your students prepared for a creative economy?

Offer your students the exciting opportunity to gain insight into the creative thinking process, exposure to Muskoka's creative professionals, and the opportunity to play vital roles in developing an interactive educational symposium that focuses on Muskoka's growing creative Economy.

This grass roots movement of students, artists, educators, mentors will create awareness and momentum for Creative Paths educational symposium (to take place in Fall 2010) focusing on shift of Muskoka's economy to a creative economy.

Surveys will be distributed by with the intent of assessing participant needs, and gaging interest in the program.

CICE Project Goals

• to begin a grass roots community movement turning knowledge into action
• building momentum for support of creative skills development in support of Muskoka’s creative economy
• to identify and assess relevant individual issues, challenges, concerns
• to deliver effective programs based on identified needs

Programs for Muskoka Secondary School Students

Mentoring Programs (minimum of 10 pairs will be set up throughout Muskoka)

Goals

• Sharing of valuable information including critical thinking skills required in creative process
• providing insight into creative careers and assisting students in using critical thinking skills to assist in career planning decisions

Specifics

CICE needs educators to identify and present potential student candidates for this program outlining their specific needs - so we can pair students with appropriate mentors who can successfully help them reach their goals.

Paired students and mentors will be introduced at an introductory meeting in January 2010, where they will be given mentoring relationship expectations and guidelines, and tips on goal setting for maximizing the benefits of the program.

It will be up to the Participants to remain in contact with each other independently - however they will be encouraged to continue networking & engage in ongoing communication with all program participants, and also encouraged to attend relevant workshops

Participants will receive email correspondence notifications for program updates, and wil be able to access a calendar program of events on the Arts Directory of Muskoka.

The session will wrap in late May with a meeting showcasing/discussing program results with all participants. Where possible the program workshops will be aligned and synchronized with the Futures Innovation Muskoka mentorship programming.

Anticipated Outcomes

Students will learn through experience of creative professionals and be more prepared for careers in the creative economy

Successful mentoring relationships, and the process will be profiled and subject for discussion at CICE Symposium in fall 2010

Creativity Workshops / Seminars (1 workshop in each of 4 Muskoka High Schools)

Goal

• to expose students to creative career choices in Muskoka
  
• to have creative professionals briefly discuss their creative career paths (how they got to where they are)
• to have an open discussion about the common thread amongst the diverse creative professions - the creative thought process, and how it can benefit us all

Specifics

Bring creative thinkers(5-10), artists into schools to do workshops on critical creative thinking skills

Intro - Benefits of creative thinking in career planning – address by speaker TBD

Presentation of various interactive creative exhibits, performances, readings, etc TBD

How did they get to where they are? Briefly discuss their creative career path

Discussion of the common thread - critical thinking and the creative process

Special Programming for classes of students

Goal

to bring program to minimum of 2 business classes at one Secondary school

Creative Intelligence class-specific student initiative projects (designed for business, leadership classes in Secondary schools)

Introduction - bring in innovative thinkers into classes to discuss role of innovation and creative in today’s business climate

PROPOSED PROJECT A)

• Speaker TBA of leading edge sustainable companies - on the role of innovation in business - focus innovation or other local sustainable businesses
• Students will research, identify and study Muskoka business organizations that are using creative resources and innovation to engage in Muskoka’s creative economy
• Brainstorm best methods/practices for new business models that engage in creative thinking to advance Muskoka’s creative economy
• Selected students projects will be chosen for presentation and discussion by students at the Creative Economy Symposium in Fall 2010

PROPOSED PROJECT B)

• Speaker TBA on community-building, forming the Arts Designation for Muskoka, its significance and potential benefits to the local economy
• Speaker TBA on experience in using social media in business practices with – focus technological innovation – how social media is changing business practicesStudents could engage in creative development of CICE conference promotion – i.e. unique ways to create interest and momentum in the community, using new media to promote etc….

PROPOSED PROJECT C)

• Speaker TBA on Artists Adventures in Huntsville Community Involvement Art Project.
• Writing or Journalism students engage in development of HAS project Artists Adventures in Huntsville – students will engage with Huntsville Art Society to educate themselves about their community project and will assist in writing the weekly arts column in Huntsville Forester

To increase awareness for; Muskoka's regional Arts Community Designation, creative career opportunities and for the CICE interactive educational symposium

1. at school career fairs
2. in schools
3. collaborating in community projects and initiative
   
4. possibly collaborate with MTMA to participate in G8 Media Centre promotional programming for broader base exposure
   - have sampling of CICE programme results showcased – ie mentors alongside students exhibiting talents, discussing creative paths and processes
   

To participate in Creative Intelligence for a Creative Economy programming, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fill out the participation form.