The first general meeting of SPARKcon got underway this week. This will be the third installment of working with a wide variety of people throughout the Triangle who want to help ignite the “Creative Hub of the South” with showcases and workshops. The focus is on local creative talent getting showcased through various venues (like a fashion show and breakdancing) and also giving people a chance to talk about community issues that converge for artists, technologists, independent business and those that focus on inclusivity.

With all the hoopla around the growing events, it was nice to look back at the original SPARKcon Comment on what’s important in developing a thriving creative scene. Put lots of creative people together in one room, give them a common mission, and the ideas fly fast and furiously. All told, the four workshops held in September of 2006 filled 60 big pages of flipchart paper. But in the end, some core ideas and common themes emerged as essential for the Triangle to earn the distinction “Creative Hub of the South.” This is some sort of a Triangle Manifesto. Here are the top 10 recommendations from our community on how to get there:

1. Foster a vibrant urban core featuring a diverse mix of interests, ethnicity, and ages
2. Increase focus on green spaces that allows people to enjoy the environment
3. Develop safer pedestrian and bicycle activity to encourage people to explore
4. Create dynamic public spaces where arts and technology can intermingle
5. Support collectives as incubators of creativity
6. Develop an information hub to publicly promote all creative activities from new patents to gallery shows
7. Encourage programs to foster emerging talent of all types—from small shops and restaurants to artists and inventors
8. Regularly exhibit and celebrate home grown talent of all kinds in public projects
9. Improve public transit infrastructure to bring people to public squares, urban cores, and green spaces
10. Promote tolerance and gain insight from our many different backgrounds

See more detailed workshop recommendation from our community on:

How do you make a thriving Art Scene?

How do you make a thriving Technology Scene?

How do you make a thriving scene of Inclusivity?

How do you make a scene that thrives with Independent Businesses?

or download the PDF of the SPARKcon Comment 2006 (3.5MB) as published in the Independent Weekly. More info at SPARKcon’s website.