This manifesto is the outcome of a workshop at last fall’s Creative Economy Summit. Bob Barba and Mary Clare Powell, the workshop leaders, and the Summit group have worked it repeatedly, asked for lots of feedback from you all, and think it might be finished. We know it won’t suit everyone but it reflects the thoughts generated by the group at the summit.

We need some feedback. Will you read it over, and answer these questions via the forum on this website?

• Are you enthusiastic about a Manifesto?
• Can you think of ways that you personally might be able to use it, for example, taking it to artists groups you belong to, using it to stimulate a discussion about the creative economy with a friend who owns a small business, etc.
• What might be a jazzier title?
• What might the Franklin Country Arts and Culture Partnership use it for, aside from including it with our Strategic Plan, and grant proposals?
• How might we include the perspectives of business people in it, or is that not appropriate? How do we bridge this to others who don’t see themselves as artists?