City of Mesa to host "Creative Conversations" featuring five creative economy leaders

November 6, 2019 at 2:05 pm

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the City of Mesa will host an event in honor of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at the Mesa Arts Center in Downtown Mesa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The free event will feature a panel discussion with five local founders from the creative economy and is in partnership with Arizona State University Entrepreneurship and Innovation team and Creative Catalysts. The panel will discuss their startup journeys, how they form value around creative work, and how society thinks about art entrepreneurship. Following the panel discussion will be networking with light refreshments.

More than 55 million Americans (35% of the workforce) make up the "creative class" that is composed of knowledge workers, techies and cultural creatives. Recently, the City of Mesa was cited as having the third fastest growing creative class in the country after Miami and Fort Worth. From 2012 to 2017, Mesa's creative class grew 34 percent.

"Entrepreneurship drives innovation and improves cities by bringing new jobs and residents," Mayor John Giles said. "Mesa's creative economy thrives when innovation, imagination, artistic freedom and access to knowledge are encouraged."

The panel will feature Carmen Guerrero, Executive Director (Cultural Coalition); Champ Styles, Graffiti Artist (Such Styles); Peter Costa, CEO (Baltu Studios); Victor Irizary, Architect + Illustrator (ASU) and Muta, Artist and Muralist (Muta Vision). The session will be moderated by local Mesa creative entrepreneur, author and consultant, Pam Slim. Join us in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship week.

"Valuing entrepreneurship in all forms is a core Arizona State University design principle so we are pleased to be partnered with the City of Mesa," Ji Mi Choi, an associate vice president leading Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said. "Arts entrepreneurship does more than create economic pathways and community engagement; it also gives more beauty of many forms into society."

Tickets for the event are FREE and reservations are required. To register, visit: https://bit.ly/34kIlIZ

About Global Entrepreneurship Week
GEW is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.

About the City of Mesa
With a population of more than 511,000, Mesa, Arizona is the 35th largest city in the United States and second largest in the Phoenix-Mesa metro area. Mesa encompasses 138 square miles inside a 21-city region that has a population of 4.9 million people and is projected to grow to 5.3 million by 2024. Mesa is a vibrant city and a premier location for business development opportunities. Serving industry leaders such as Apple, Banner Health, Boeing, Bridgestone, Empire Southwest, MD Helicopters, Nammo Talley, Ulthera, and more, Mesa is a smart location for intelligent companies.

Office of Economic Development
Contact: Kim Lofgreen
Tel. 480-644-3962
kim.lofgreen@mesaaz.gov