Growing Creative Economy Partnerships: Four predictable stages

We propose to share practical lessons drawn from a review of ten years of MCC grants and programs to encourage creative economic development in Massachusetts. We would share four commonly observed stages of growth that partnerships go through as they plan and implement creative economic development initiatives. Observation of Adams Arts programs and research suggest four developmental stages of creative economic initiatives: Exploration and Planning, Start-up Operations, Growth, and Maturity. At each stage there are predictable risks, typical characteristics and needs, and questions that partners and their allies may wish to consider. Understanding these developmental stages helps program managers avoid predictable problems and helps funders provide more appropriate assistance.