Low cost living, creativity
I was reminded last week while listening to a radio show on nation-branding of Ireland's strategy to reverse brain-drain: make it cost effective for creative professionals to live there and they will.
The program involved government agencies securing low-interest home loans and housing for artists and similar professionals. Other programs also encouraged technological and creative development by making these less expensive for native and immigrant Irish citizens in Ireland than other places.
In a less structured way the creative class was encouraged to come and create in the Seattle of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Many people came to the northwestern US city because a creative community was developing, and because housing and living was cheap enough that musicians could practice their craft more than other places. Artists had to spend less time earning money from day jobs to pay for life there, giving their creative juices time to flow.
These principals should be considered as Saint John tries to attract creative professionals to the city.
1 comment:
I agree. At the same time, we need higher income housing were business professionals can live and feel at home, something that caters to very upscale individuals (I have ideas...). It is the business men who fund things like non-profit performing arts and cultural events.
We need to diversify and learn to attract people from all ends of the spectrum, not just blue collar workers.
Someting has to change.
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