There has never been a greater demand for creative talent. Nancy Etz recognizes the importance and nuances needed for creative people to succeed. Finding highly valued talent is among the most challenging professional endeavors. The process can be daunting even when one knows where to look. Though, knowing where to begin looking is not always as easy as it seems.
Creative Clusters within the United States
New York and Los Angeles are renowned for their creative hot spots. These cities are known throughout the world for much more than their power and prestige. Both flourish financially and culturally. Maybe more than anything, it’s the perceived metropolitan opportunities and experiences that attract extraordinary individuals. Creative talent certainly gravitates to major metropolises, but the status quo is changing.
The world seems to be in a constant state of flux. Modern technology has dramatically altered the paradigm of where creative talent can be found. Modern artists are increasingly flourishing outside of major economic hubs. Below is a list of some creative talent pools within the U.S. as reported by CityLab.com:
- San Jose
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco
- Boston
- Raleigh
- Austin
- Baltimore
Finding a high concentration of talent within San Francisco and Boston isn’t likely to surprise anyone. However, San Jose, Raleigh, Austin and Baltimore are probably not the first cities that come to mind when thinking about cultural influence. San Jose ranks at the top of the list for the largest share of creative class in 2017.
CityLab compiled its list by using a creative metric that was based on occupation. Education was also a consideration. CityLab pointed out how Americans with college degrees gravitate to the creative class at a rate of about ninety percent. Though, close to half of the overall creative class holds no degree at all. For the purposes of compiling its list, the creative class included education, legal, healthcare, business, technology, and science knowledge jobs in addition to the arts.
Clustered Talent from around the World
Remaining competitive and locating creative talent is extremely challenging. For this reason, many organizations look outside of the United States. Other factors may include competition, customs and culture.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) makes a dedicated effort toward promoting creative and cultural industries. It works to nurture the shared goals that foster success for all parties involved in an endeavor. UNESCO found the following cities to harbor the highest concentration of creative media arts talent around the world:
- Toronto, Canada
- Braga, Portugal
- Lyon, France
- Sapporo, Japan
- Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
- York, U.K.
- Link, Austria
- Kosice, Slovakia
- Gwangju, South Korea
Like CityLab, UNESCO also investigated the role of education. The organization seemed primarily interested in cultural aspects. Notable professional events were often detailed. This makes sense when considering how much emphasis UNESCO placed on the inclusion of creativity in a city’s developmental planning. Examinations also included that which makes each location special.
BBC explored five of the most creative cities around the world. Like the UNESCO list, some BBC’s findings might surprise creative professionals:
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Dakar, Senegal
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Bangkok, Thailand
Each city was listed with compelling reasons as to why they deserve to be called creative hubs. BBC makes a distinction that creative industries are not all about individuals. Social aspects play a profound role. There are many factors to consider. Diversity was particularly mentioned. Essentially, creativity is at the center of how a city comes together. Success in this arena is measured by the attraction of artists and influx of valued talent. A word of caution is given for when a city becomes too successful. Inequality may ensue. This has served to drive away artists looking for an environment of free and unencumbered expression.
It’s worth noting that both UNESCO and CityLab gave Austin high praise. UNESCO also agreed with BBC in their analysis of Dakar.
Demystifying the Origins of Brilliance
Recruiting creative professionals is a talent in itself. Nancy Etz has a knack for finding brilliance. Experience, sentiment and intangibles all factor into the ability to consistently identify talented individuals. Success is achieved by vigorously staying on top of industry trends, changing cultural climates, and artistic expression.