Global Creativity Organization Selects Oklahoma for 2010 Creativity World Forum

Oklahoma City (PRWEB via PRWebDirect) November 26, 2008 -- The State of Oklahoma will be on the world stage in 2010 when it hosts the annual Creativity World Forum, a global conference focused entirely on creativity and innovation.


Peter Abramo, Executive Director of Creative Oklahoma, Inc., reported that Oklahoma City was awarded the 2010 meeting at the recent Creativity World Forum held November 18-20 in Antwerp, Belgium.

"We are excited Oklahoma has been chosen for this unique event, which will bring together entrepreneurs, knowledge workers, educators, cultural leaders and policy makers from across the globe," Abramo said.

"There is already great interest in our efforts to grow the culture of creativity across the broad areas of education, commerce and culture. The 2010 forum will give us an opportunity to showcase the unique creativity and innovation of institutions based in our state while hosting a unique interactive event exploring new ideas, processes and solutions," he said.

While details have yet to be finalized, the conference will be held in the fall of 2010 and includes a two-day conference and trade exposition featuring top speakers, seminars and idea exchanges. Over 1500 delegates attended the recent conference in Antwerp.

Oklahoma holds the distinction of being the only U.S. state currently recognized as a District of Creativity (DC) and is one of only 12 regions designated throughout the world.

V. Burns Hargis, Chairman of the Creative Oklahoma's Oklahoma Creativity Project said, "This is a great opportunity for Oklahoma to showcase our efforts to grow the culture of creativity and innovation plus benefit from new ideas and best practices developed by our friends from around the world."

"Oklahoma is well on its way toward promoting new opportunities for creativity and innovation at all levels - in education, in government, in the workplace, and in the daily lives of its people," he added.

A 16-member delegation led by Commerce Secretary Natalie Shirley, participated in the 2008 conference. Oklahomans led the conference strand on "Creativity in Education" with Dr. Don Betz, president of Northeastern University, and Jean Hendrickson, Executive Director of A+ Schools.

Keynote speakers at the Antwerp event included Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer; Chris Anderson, Editor of Wired Magazine; Tom Kelley, CEO of design firm IDEO and Dan Heath, author of the best-selling book, "Made to Stick" and actor John Cleese.

Other worldwide Districts of Creativity include: Baden-Württemberg (Germany); Catalonia (Spain); Karnataka (India); Lombardy (Italy); Nord-Pas de Calais (France); Qingdao (P.R. China) ; Québec (Canada); Rhône-Alpes (France); Scotland (United Kingdom); Shanghai (P.R. China); Tampere (Finland) and Flanders (Belgium).

Qingdao (China) hosted the World Forum event in 2007 where Oklahoma was unanimously admitted into the network of Creative Districts and the only U.S. representative. For more information on the World Creativity Project, visit http://www.creativityworldforum.be/view/nl/6426017

About Creative Oklahoma, Inc.

The Oklahoma Creativity is a statewide organization that encourages and supports creativity in the multiple areas of culture, commerce and education. It is the only organization of its kind in the nation. Oklahomans recognize that creativity must become an overarching and essential mindset for Oklahomans if our state is to succeed economically and socially in the 21st Century. The Project is supported by Creative Oklahoma Inc., a non-profit organization.

A statewide board composed of community and tribal leaders, researchers, educators, artists, business professionals, state agency directors, corporate executives and other interested Oklahomans from throughout the state help guide the organization's work. Over 1000 Oklahomans have joined the project's key working committees and have signed up to participate through Creative Oklahoma's website: www.stateofcreativity.com

The goals of this ambitious initiative are: to leverage existing creativity and elevate the creative potential of Oklahomans; to empower all Oklahomans to develop their capacity for creativity and innovation; to facilitate the growth of an entrepreneurial economy that will stimulate new careers, companies and industries; to facilitate the further development of world-class cultural and education opportunities; and to position the state as a national and world leader in creativity.

Contacts: Brent Gooden 405-818-1900 or John Reid 405-659-9559

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