"Our best hope for the future is to develop a new paradigm of human capacity to meet a new era of human existence. We need to evolve a new appreciation of the importance of nurturing human talent along with an understanding of how human talent expresses itself differently in every individual. We need to create environments—in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our public offices—where every person is inspired to grow creatively.... [A]s the world evolves, the very future of our communities and institutions will depend on it.” – Sir Ken Robinson

This imperative provided the backdrop for the Creative States Conversation: Creativity, Education, and the Economy, June 3-4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Education and government officials and leaders of nonprofit organizations gathered to determine if a national network of states might be created to support this transformation – for schools, workplaces, and communities.

Wisconsin was only the second state invited to participate, due to the work of the Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education, co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. During the Creative States Conversation, Wisconsin was mentioned often for its participation in the inaugural class of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Education Leaders Institute, the work of the Task Force, and the ongoing work of the Creative Wisconsin Local Teams.

Sir Ken Robinson provided intellectual leadership at the meeting, David O’Fallon of the McPhail Center for Music in Minnesota facilitated the group of over 40 people, and the meeting was organized by the Kirkpatrick Foundation and supported by its partners in Creative Oklahoma.

Those gathered determined that there is a need and desire for a national network for transformation. A statement of purpose is being drafted and the Kirkpatrick Foundation has agreed to continue its logistical support of the organic growth of this network. The DPI, along with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Wisconsin Arts Board, will continue to participate in this national effort on behalf of Wisconsin.