Royann Dean from tmg* reports on the development of this year’s tmg* talks to happen later this summer.

–

tmg* talks is the Bahamas’ only panel conversation on design, business and the creative economy. The big idea behind tmg* talks is to make Nassau a more liveable city by encouraging diverse thinking and openness – in other words, to make smart conversation cool.

Last year, I started tmg* talks basically as an experiment. I didn’t know what to expect but the quality of the conversation on the panel and the engagement from the audience at every talk showed that this was a conversation people really wanted to have.

This year, the experiment continues with a focus on sustainability, but not just in the green sense. The ability to sustain involves a strategic design process. We’re talking about the built environment, the economy and well, about people in the creative class. It’s important that we have these conversations, not just in The Bahamas but throughout the Caribbean, which highlight the potential of the creative class as a component of sustainable cultural and economic diversity for the region.

(l to r) Dr. Nicolette Bethel, Anthropology Professor, College of The Bahamas Hon. Charles Maynard, Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Olivia Saunders, Economics Professor, College of The Bahamas, Royann Dean, tmg*

That’s why we’ve put together an amazing group of panellists who are changing business paradigms and creative ecosystems, especially through the visual arts. Some of the panellists in this session include Jaime Lewis, owner of Islandz, a company which uses local artwork to design phone accessories; Amanda Coulson, director of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, who is initiating programmes at the gallery to democratise the visual arts and to develop the cultural and commercial potential of the NAGB;  Pam Burnside, Co-founder of Creative Nassau and board member of the Transforming Spaces art tour which recently used the theme ‘Fibre’ to engage artists to use straw in new ways; and Frank Comito, a board member of the Downtown Nassau Partnership, a public private partnership whose plans to revive the city of Nassau include incorporating elements of the creative economy.  The session this year runs from June to August. Find out more information and receive updates at  www.tmginnovates.com

June //  Built Environment Sustainability- Architecture, Design and Sustainable Development will be held at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) on June 21^st, 6:30PM – 8:30PM

Last year, we talked about  how architecture and design display a city’s character and inform our behaviour in a space. This year, we’re talking about the importance of holistic design and sustainable architecture and development in planning the built environment, especially on islands with an expanding population.  Is this type of design thinking happening? Are there policies in place to support it? If not, what can we do about it?

July and August //   Economic Sustainability: Entrepreneurism and the Creative Class will be held at Custom Computers, Harbour Bay on July 19^th, 6:30PM – 8:30PM

Creativity is used in art, commerce and science and it is the key to developing thriving cities. Economist Richard Florida credits the creative class with driving economic and cultural growth in a liveable city. The creative class are thought to value meritocracy, critical thinking and aesthetics. Small businesses are generally the engines of a nation’s economy yet despite organisations such as the Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund Ltd and BAIC, it’s still difficult for entrepreneurs to get started in The Bahamas. Are we developing a nation of entrepreneurs?  Is entrepreneurism helped or hindered in our culture?

(l to r) Dr. Nicolette Bethel, Anthropology Professor, College of The Bahamas Hon. Charles Maynard, Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Olivia Saunders, Economics Professor, College of The Bahamas, Royann Dean, tmg*, John Cox, artist and Art Professor, College of The Bahamas, Jon Murray, Downtown Art Tours

Economic Diversification and the Creative Class will be held at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) on August 23^rd, 6:30PM – 8:30PM

The characteristics of the creative class such as critical thinking, problem solving, and meritocracy are thought to be needed for a country to compete in the new economy which requires innovation and imagination. How can these people help to build our economy? What makes people who think this way want to live in The Bahamas? How are we encouraging these kinds of people to return to The Bahamas or to immigrate here?

Find out more information and receive updates at  www.tmginnovates.com