Is Winnipeg a "creative city"?

Hi everyone,
I'm researching the topic of creativity in education, business and life and would like to post these questions to everyone on the forum:

Is Winnipeg a creative city? Could it become a creative city? Why or why not?
By creative city, I mean one that promotes creativity in it's people, industries, spaces? For an example - take a look at what these cities are doing:

Toronto: http://www.imagineatoronto.ca/
Chattanooga: http://www.createhere.org/index.html

I'm interested in your questions, thoughts, ideas or examples. Thanks! melissa_r

The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Interesting question...

I've been discussing this very topic a lot recently. Winnipeg seems to have a disproportionate number of artists and authors and musicians. We have a world renowned ballet and symphony orchestra. Ton's of festivals.

Some speculate it is our relative isolation that drives this creativity.

Deank wrote:The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Anything a city does to foster and grow creativity is a good thing IMO. Same with schools. Where's the harm?

grumpy old man wrote:

Deank wrote:The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Anything a city does to foster and grow creativity is a good thing IMO. Same with schools. Where's the harm?

I think the harm would come from what's considered "creative" and what's considered "offensive"?

If you go down portage and see those "statues" that look like cheap papiermache...especially that deformed poodle with the erection...you'd have to argue..."is it art"? or "is it trash"? to me...it's actually quite offensive...especially knowing my tax dollars helped pay to put it there.

Doing something to foster creativiting is one thing. Throwing money at stuff (questionable or not) is quite another.

grumpy old man wrote:

Deank wrote:The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Anything a city does to foster and grow creativity is a good thing IMO. Same with schools. Where's the harm?

Sounds like socialist engineering. Let the free market decide, not government.

What poodle? Is that your "interpretation"???Heh heh...

Different strokes eh?

Creativity is not limited to the arts. Look at the innovations and inventions coming out of Winnipeg. Just look at a company directory of the Smart Park down by the U of M.

I guess we then have to more clearly define the terms eh?

Polar bears were uber-successful. AA's poodle not so much?

My point is let's make art and music lessons more widely accessible.

Hahahahaha....those "statues"...pure schlock.....now if we had some stuff like Chicago has.....|I am a firm believer in Dadaism and deconstructionism....\I say take the "statues" and let some us ahhhh, elevate them to a whole other level of expression.....

Creative city? You bet. i am with GOM on this one. WE have much to be proud of but in some respects have a long way to go.....as to me|? I express my creativity every chance \i get.....hehehehe

FlyingRat wrote:Creativity is not limited to the arts. Look at the innovations and inventions coming out of Winnipeg. Just look at a company directory of the Smart Park down my the U of M.

Absolutely.

grumpy old man wrote:

Deank wrote:The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Anything a city does to foster and grow creativity is a good thing IMO. Same with schools. Where's the harm?

What exactly can a city do? The websites quoted in the original post seem pretty vague and fluffy.

To put words on a fork and stick them in DeanK's mouth, I think he's interpreting "city" as council/government, in which case I agree with him.

Creativity and its fostering needs to come from the people and arts groups.

Creativity is HUGE in my area of the city.

Just come down the back lane and see all the creative explatives expressed on the fences and garages.

But...to answer the question.

I think there are creative thinkers in the city. And creativity does not have to mean "artsy"...it could be new ideas for infrastructure, design, etc.

In that case...then Winnipeg can contribute to being "creative"...but there are SO many "old school" mentalities, it's VERY hard to implement anything that's truly vibrant and unique.

Just look at the crying going on because of IKEA, or the antiquated thinking about mass transit.

How many bike trails are there in Winnipeg? I don't mean the leisurely park trails...I mean actual areas designated as bike trails...to improve transit, improve safety, and help beautify the city?

Spoiler:

Can these things be done? Of course...but as long as the NIMBYS and Naysayers dominate the spotlight...creative solutions are a long ways away.

AGEsAces wrote:Creativity is HUGE in my area of the city.

Just come down the back lane and see all the creative explatives expressed on the fences and garages.

Do they at least know how to spell the cuss words correctly? hehehe

i saw some excellent can work the other day walking towards the Fort Garry hotel.....near Great Canadian Travel Company....stellar!

Mantha wrote:

grumpy old man wrote:

Deank wrote:The people of Winnipeg can be and are very creative. I dont think its any of a city's business to be involved in ensuring people are creative, people need to do that themselves.

Anything a city does to foster and grow creativity is a good thing IMO. Same with schools. Where's the harm?

What exactly can a city do? The websites quoted in the original post seem pretty vague and fluffy.

To put words on a fork and stick them in DeanK's mouth, I think he's interpreting "city" as council/government, in which case I agree with him.

Creativity and its fostering needs to come from the people and arts groups.

Agreed. Artsy-fartsy websites. No government intervention.

AGEsAces wrote:But...to answer the question.

I think there are creative thinkers in the city. And creativity does not have to mean "artsy"...it could be new ideas for infrastructure, design, etc.

In that case...then Winnipeg can contribute to being "creative"...but there are SO many "old school" mentalities, it's VERY hard to implement anything that's truly vibrant and unique.

Just look at the crying going on because of IKEA, or the antiquated thinking about mass transit.

How many bike trails are there in Winnipeg? I don't mean the leisurely park trails...I mean actual areas designated as bike trails...to improve transit, improve safety, and help beautify the city?

Spoiler:

Can these things be done? Of course...but as long as the NIMBYS and Naysayers dominate the spotlight...creative solutions are a long ways away.

Ages - what about the trails at Assiniboine Park....\I rode on those trails back in the late 70's......I consider that system to be a great example of what this city can do....

He's not counting the ones in parks.

According to CGA Manitoba, we have the most creative accountants!

Yeah...park trails are not transportation trails.
They do not get you from Point A - Point B in a reasonable and efficient manner.

Even the Dink Bridge does not have a bike trail across it...something designed exclusively for cyclists who wish to travel reasonable routes at a reasonable pace.

FlyingRat wrote:According to CGA Manitoba, we have the most creative accountants!

Who in CGA Manitoba said that?

Their ad campaigns

FlyingRat wrote:Their ad campaigns

I've never heard them refer to themselves as creative accountants. IMO, that would suggest they are not ethical. I grew up in the CGA organization, my Dad was their president at one time.

Goth_chic wrote:

FlyingRat wrote:Their ad campaigns

I've never heard them refer to themselves as creative accountants. IMO, that would suggest they are not ethical. I grew up in the CGA organization, my Dad was their president at one time.

That was actually last year I think...something about "Creative Accounting" being a good thing.

I vaguely remember it being discussed in "another" forum last summer/fall.