Special Section: Blaine House Conference Wrap-Up

Voices from the community


	Attendees toured the Bates Mill with Platz Associates Architects. Photo by Robert Mitchell.

Blaine House Conference on Maine's Creative Economy

More than 650 people attended the Blaine House Conference on Maine's Creative Economy. Here is what some of them had to say about the event:

"I left feeling very good and inspired about the whole idea of broad recognition that artists, creatives can have such a profound effect on the economy; just the fact that was recognized, that research had been done. My sense was, people want to make our overall quality of life better, not make money from us. I just thought it was great and I was so glad that I invested in going."
Amy Stacey Curtis, installation artist, Gray

"I really liked the use of the space at the Bates Mill and the energy created around it. You could tell a lot of work had gone into it. I kept hearing that you can take an old building and make it new again and it seemed like a great idea. Maine is known for its historic buildings, but that doesn't mean there can not be renewed community life around them."
Dara Kidder, Americorps VISTA worker, Augusta

"I think the energy of the conference is what really excited me. I walked around with a big smile on my face. Every session I went to, people were super-engaged. I heard about the importance of having a strong downtown for a Creative Economy and I'm going to be a part of that in Lewiston."
Dana Eidsness, director of the Lewiston/Auburn Regional Office, Maine International Trade Center, Lewiston

"We were really glad to be there. I loved to see all the people from all across the state, from large and small organizations. I was excited that the Governor was there and so many people from town planning offices and economic development offices."
Harriet Mosher, Director of Brunswick Area Arts and Cultural Alliance, Brunswick

"I was overwhelmed by the turnout. I thought it was extremely well organized and extremely well promoted, and that showed by the huge number of people that expressed an interest in the topic by showing up. The discussions that I heard, including Richard Florida's presentation, really set a very positive tone regarding not only on where Maine is, but where Maine could go with the Creative Economy."
Jim Dow, president, Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor


	Fritz Grobe and Mike Michlon, both of the Odd Company, performed at the conference. Photo by Robert Mitchell.

"Folks from my area were very excited. It was great to hear from Mayor John Barrett from North Adams. It just takes great courage to pursue this. We're doing it in our communities, so it was very reinforcing."
Jayne Lello, Centre Theatre board member, Sebec

"My husband and I are both in our 30s and we came here from Boston to make a life for ourselves. It made me feel really good about being in Maine today. I was totally charged by the whole event. I was really impressed by the Governor. It is exciting to feel that if we push to implement these ideas locally, we are going to be supported by the state. It makes me feel like Maine is just leading the way. It makes me want to stay here and continue to invest our efforts here."
Lucia Colombaro, vice president, DEXIMER a technology and innovation company, Bethel

"It changed my thinking in that the Creative Economy is not just artisan-based - everybody can be involved in the Creative Economy. One of the things that stands out is all the work that was done by Transformit [Inc.]. That there are businesses in Maine that do such awe-inspiring work, shows that we can export our creative minds across the world."
Michael Williams, AVP/manager, Androscoggin Bank, Auburn

"Just getting all those people in the same room for a day was really exciting. It was a chance for a guy like me to network, to be in the same room with all these people: presidents and directors. For me that was huge."
Jonathan Mess, artist and arts educator, Buckfield

"The group that went down to the conference, and some others, are going to be meeting again in Piscataquis County, and doing some debriefing; kind of deciding where we go from here. That meeting is going to be at the Centre Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft. We chose the Centre Theatre specifically because it is one of the centerpieces of what we hope is to be a renaissance up here in Piscataquis County."
Mark Scarano, economic development director, Piscataquis County