Getting Creative

More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, 65 speakers and numerous international delegates will attend the 2010 Creativity World Forum in Oklahoma City on Nov. 15 to stimulate advances in international commerce, culture and education.

The 2010 Creativity World Forum, sponsored by the non-profit organization, Creative Oklahoma, will assemble inventive and imaginative minds to inspire creativity from Oklahomans. The forum provokes individuals to explore the creative process and analyze its impact on productivity in multiple elements of life.

"We have over 65 high-caliber speakers that are some of the most creative minds from around the world and they will be talking about creativity in education, in business, commerce and also in culture and our living, our lives," said Kathy Oden, director of public relations and marketing for the forum.

Oklahoma is part of the International Districts of Creativity, which includes 12 regions across the world. "The International Districts of Creativity hosts a forum every year and it rotates among all of the different members of the district and Oklahoma is the only member of the international districts of creativity that's located in the United States and so we were selected to host the forum this year," Oden said.

As the only state to represent America in creativity, Oklahoma is responsible for not only embodying statewide culture and ideals, but also those of the nation.

During the Creativity World Forum, spectators will be exposed to significant Oklahoma heritage that is imperative to its history.

"Woven through the entire event is the Native American experience, where our Native American friends will be there doing live paint, live storytelling and displaying all kinds of incredible things to help all of our visitors better understand Native American culture," Oden said.

The Native American culture that establishes Oklahoma's ancestry will be on national display to allow the world to better understand the history and sacred traditions of this state. Oklahomans will gain a better understanding of their heritage as they expel their traditions to the world through art and other displays that will be offered.

The forum is not only about Oklahomans exposing their traditions, but also about learning from other cultures. Germany, Spain, Belgium, France and India are a few of the 12 countries that are represented within the Districts of Creativity.

"There's going to be an international exhibit of art from around the world from these districts of creativity," Oden said. "We have several artists coming from around the world to exhibit their art down in downtown Oklahoma City in what's called automobile alley."

As Oklahomans learn from other cultures through the forum, they can also learn from others in their own community that have vastly contributed to international creative and innovative efforts, as well as those in Oklahoma.

Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Olympians Peter Delaney, Nadia Comeneci and Bart Conner, OGE Energy CEO George Kaiser, Chesapeake Energy CEO John Richels and other prominent individuals will represent Oklahoma and contribute their innovative ideas about changing society through creative thinking and progressive movement. As these individuals promote inventive development, they will represent Oklahoma as a forefront for creative and progressive efforts. Oklahoma will be acknowledged as a prominent and compelling source for innovation, modernization and overall improvement regarding commerce, culture and education.

Oklahoma will continue to improve global creative efforts by contributing to the International Districts of Creativity, yet the opportunity to host a national forum such as this is a rare occasion.

"An event of this caliber, this is probably not going to come back to the state of Oklahoma any time within the next decade," Oden said. "So, this truly is an opportunity that people don't want to pass up because I don't know when anything like this will be in Oklahoma again for many years to come."

Creative Oklahoma is a non-profit organization that represents the state of Oklahoma by encouraging citizens to take innovative and creative action to improve the community. The 2010 Creativity World Forum is a two-day conference that will be held Nov. 15-17 at the Cox Convention Center and other Oklahoma city locations. The conference is $475 for Oklahoma residents and $575 for non-residents. Regular day passes are $375 and $95 for educational participants, such as students and teachers.

For more information, contact Creative Oklahoma at (405) 232-5570 or visit its website, stateofcreativity.com.