The second video in The Campaign of Ideas: Video Knowledge Exchange series is entitled Collaboration Fuels Innovation. The video reflects on the key messages from the Creative Places + Spaces: The Collaborative City conference and is coupled with Storyboard Ink’s visual storytelling. Stay tuned in two weeks' time for the next video in The Campaign of Ideas series — The Collaborative City: What Did We Learn?

Respond to Our Current Poll: Tell us what you think is the most practical and relevant conference learning on the theme of Collaboration Fuels Innovation. The poll is located on the lower right-hand side of the page.

Click on the image above to watch
Creative Places + Spaces: Collaboration Fuels Innovation

About Storyboard Ink's Graphic Recording
at Creative Places + Spaces
1 man, 1 tablet computer, 2.5 days, and 1 objective, to graphically record 17 presentations in order to produce collaborative videos summarizing specific elements of the Creative Places + Spaces 2009 conference.  

For two and a half days Storyboard Ink’s Bill McIntosh captured information that allowed him to create simple, yet, powerful animations that were then pieced together by his partner to create a series of episodic features in collaboration with Artscape.

The art of graphic recording combines both listening and drawing skills; however, the CP+S conference presented a different challenge as he was now required to do a lot more listening given the variety of rich content being discussed.

As he sat at the back of the room, sketch software open, stylus in hand, he spent 85% of his time with his eyes on the audience while listening to each presentation, honing in on particular reactions that show the importance of what was being said.  A nod in agreement, laughter, or disapproving head shake, all are indicators of the emotional connection between the individual and the words being expressed.  These reactions and the words being heard by all of us within the room are what inspired him to draw the images that are now enjoyed by those responsible for the creation of Creative Places + Spaces and those that attended in person or via live, online streaming.

Storyboard Ink specializes in visual storytelling. From cave paintings, stone tablets, the printing press, comic books and photography, people have become increasingly sophisticated in their forms of visual communication; yet, nothing is more effective than simple, powerful images and words. www.storyboardink.com

In October 2009 delegates from across Canada and beyond joined Artscape in Toronto for our third Creative Places + Spaces Conference The Collaborative City. In a packed two-day program inspirational keynote speakers and ground breaking projects made the case for the power of collaboration to solve complex multi dimensional challenges and to fuel innovation. 

Over the next 5 months The Campaign of Ideas will bring you a regular diet of conference highlights focusing on the major themes of the conference and some of the tools for collaboration that were presented.

Click on the image above to watch Creative Places + Spaces: Why Collaborate?

To kick off The Campaign of Ideas, Artscape commissioned Storyboard Ink to develop a three episode film which reflects on the overarching conference themes and the lessons learned at the conference. The first episode is released today, entitled Why Collaborate? and featuring graphic recordings and short video clips from Sir Ken Robinson,Richard Florida, David Buckland, Tim Jones and Simon Brault. Stay tuned for future episodes to be released on a semi-monthly basis.

About Storyboard Ink's Graphic Recording at Creative Places + Spaces
1 man, 1 tablet computer, 2.5 days, and 1 objective, to graphically record 17 presentations in order to produce collaborative videos summarizing specific elements of the Creative Places + Spaces 2009 conference.

For two and a half days Storyboard Ink’s Bill McIntosh captured information that allowed him to create simple, yet, powerful animations that were then pieced together by his partner to create a series of episodic features in collaboration with Artscape.

The art of graphic recording combines both listening and drawing skills; however, the CP+S conference presented a different challenge as he was now required to do a lot more listening given the variety of rich content being discussed.

As he sat at the back of the room, sketch software open, stylus in hand, he spent 85% of his time with his eyes on the audience while listening to each presentation, honing in on particular reactions that show the importance of what was being said.  A nod in agreement, laughter, or disapproving head shake, all are indicators of the emotional connection between the individual and the words being expressed.  These reactions and the words being heard by all of us within the room are what inspired him to draw the images that are now enjoyed by those responsible for the creation of Creative Places + Spaces and those that attended in person or via live, online streaming.

Storyboard Ink specializes in visual storytelling. From cave paintings, stone tablets, the printing press, comic books and photography, people have become increasingly sophisticated in their forms of visual communication; yet, nothing is more effective than simple, powerful images and words. www.storyboardink.com

Day One at the Creative Places and Spaces: Collaborative City Conference

October 29 Spacing Toronto, Nicole Bruun-Meyer

The Creative Places and Spaces: Collaborative City Conference started with a bang…or rather an om! As delegates filled the round tables in the beautiful Carlu Concert Hall, the stage was filled with lithe, lean bodies, contorting themselves into planks, trees and warriors. Along with rhythmic music and singing, the yoga enthusiasts were soon surrounded by break dancers, tap dancers and an acrobat hanging upside down from a rope. No, we are not at a Cirque du Soleil rehearsal, but rather one of the world’s leading dialogues on creativity.

October 30 elsewhere blog post Lisa Pasold

this is the first time I’ve been involved in writing about an event that was being live-blogged & twittered via a Scribblelive screen. extremely interesting & distracting. reminds me of a study of GPS & its impact on our cognitive ability to navigate. we seem to be physically changing our brains with our new technologies; a study of London UK taxi drivers indicates that all the cognitive map-making necessary for cabbies actually alters their brains, making the back part of their hippocampus grow larger...

October 30 NOW Magazine Paul Terenefko

Creative Places and Spaces seeks to “[blur] boundaries between audience and creator, inspiring us to build infrastructure differently, and forcing us to think about new ways of doing things,” says the organically timed conference. Some years it happens, others it doesn’t.

This year it’s happening. In fact, you’re reading this post right smack in the middle of two days of sitting and listening to keynotes and panels...

October 31  Toronto Star Christopher Hume

Bearing gifts of insight, foresight and PowerPoint, the wise men came to Toronto from far and wide for the Creative Places and Spaces conference. This year's theme was collaboration: Why we need it, how to get it and keep it.

Hamutal Dotan Torontoist October 31

The Creative Places and Spaces conference continued for a second day Friday, exploring how collaboration can foster innovation and lead to breakthroughs in city-building. Also, there were rhythmic gymnasts.

 9:12 a.m. The conference has moved over to MaRS for part two. Collaborative conference hosting! (Actually, that's kind of a good idea.) No box-heads greeting us today. We are simultaneously relieved and disappointed.

Creative Class Blog: Review: Creative Places and Spaces

Kwende Kfentse Creative Class blog November 4

I’m sure that some people are just now recovering from the collaboration celebration par excellance that was the Creative Places + Spaces conference.  For those keeping track, this was my first “work-conference” (ooooooh!). For whatever reason it actually does make a difference somewhat.

Deadline for Submissions: June 30, 2009

Creative Places + Spaces partners are interested in showcasing the best examples of cross-sector collaboration from across Canada. We know that there are ground breaking projects happening in communities large and small, rural and urban in all parts of the country. We are interested in shining a spotlight during the conference on initiatives that are catalysts for community transformation, problem-solving, or idea generation. In addition to projects featured during plenary and breakout sessions, Creative Places + Spaces will provide the following three showcase opportunities for collaborative initiatives:

1. The Creative Places + Spaces Spotlight Series will showcase 8 stand-out examples of cross-sector collaboration in communities of all sizes across Canada. Spotlights will be presented in person or via video throughout the conference and will range from 5 – 15 minutes in length. Videos may also be broadcast electronically at a later date.The video series will be promoted as ‘Creative Places + Spaces On-Location’. Videos will be independently produced by a local filmmaker on a budget of $4,000 provided by Artscape. Videographers will be given a collaborative project to focus on and some parameters for the project. Creative content will rest with the filmmaker. The videos will explore the art and science of collaboration told through the voice of collaborators. We are not looking to create promotional videos for the projects in question. They are intended to unpack the issues, challenges and successes involved in cross-sector collaboration.
    
2. The Collaboration Marketplace will be set up in the MaRS lobby during on October 30 (day two). The Marketplace will feature 25 or more projects with a focus on cross-sector collaboration. The marketplace will also feature funding agencies that support collaborative initiatives and firms that offer collaborative tools or services. It will provide selected projects, agencies, and service providers an opportunity to engage directly with delegates.
    
3. On October 28, the Creative Places + Spaces Conference program will begin with a series of 3 – 5 Study Tours that feature ground-breaking collaborations in Toronto. Study tours will give delegates an opportunity to see and hear first hand about how Toronto’s change-makers are re-thinking and re-inventing the way projects are designed and delivered. Delegates will pre-register for study tours and pay a small fee to defray organizational and transportation expenses.

How to submit your ideas, projects, initiatives and services for consideration
Applicants are invited to submit a 2 page outline of the project, initiative or service they are involved in that includes the following information:

• Name and brief description of the project
• Contact information
• What is the population of the community your project is happening in?
• Who are the project collaborators?
• How does the project address community transformation, problem-solving, or idea generation
• What makes the project unique or ground-breaking?
• Please note whether proponents are interested in presenting in-person, via video spotlight, participating in the Collaboration Marketplace or in a Study Tour.

The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2009. Submissions will be assessed by the Creative Places + Spaces Programming Advisory Committee. All applicants will be notified by July 31, 2009.