Guthrie selected as an Oklahoma Creative Community

Oklahoma City — Creative Oklahoma announced today that eight Oklahoma communities: Altus, Enid, Durant, Guthrie, Locust Grove, Okmulgee, Ponca City and Tahlequah have been selected to become the first participants in the Oklahoma Creative Communities Project. The project assists communities in creative problem-solving processes that can help them address challenges and improve quality of life issues.

Over the next twenty months, Guthrie will receive access to a unique set of resources that support the community’s efforts to engage citizens. The effort will empower local citizens to develop and implement their own creative ideas and solutions to challenges within their communities. Being part of the Oklahoma Creative Communities Project will also provide a platform to promote unique stories of creativity and innovation from within each community.

“Every community faces a unique set of challenges,” Roger Webb, Chairman of Creative Oklahoma, said. “But every community also has a unique set of passionate, talented people who are eager to tackle them and make that community a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Communities were chosen through an application process that began in January of 2016. A selection team at Creative Oklahoma reviewed applications and recommended eight finalists be selected for participation. In Guthrie, The Arts in Guthrie program was the entity making application.

Creative Oklahoma will work intently with each community to cultivate new ideas that contribute to economic growth and societal transformation. “We believe that fostering a grassroots network of Creative Communities is essential to the vibrancy of the state and will help Oklahoma become a nationally recognized destination to live, work, and visit,” said Webb. “Guthrie is a great place to start!”

Leadership teams and teaching resources will be provided by the Creative Oklahoma Network and include talent from across the state. Facilitators and thought leaders from national and international firms round out this new statewide initiative.

The initiative and creative thinking process will launch with a two-day retreat in mid-March for all eight communities. For more information about the Creative Communities Project, visit www.stateofcreativity.com.

Creative Oklahoma is a statewide non-profit organization advancing Oklahoma’s economy through innovation-focused initiatives in education, commerce and culture. The mission is to develop, promote and celebrate Oklahoma’s creativity and innovation in education, commerce and culture.