BusinessWeek recently named Philadelphia as one of the U.S. cities best prepared to weather the recession, citing its strength in health care, education and more.  Business Facilities Magazine named Philadelphia as one of its editors’ location picks of 2008, touting the Region as an economic development hot spot.

Still, small businesses face unique challenges and every dollar has to count.  Should you cut marketing costs, or increase it to be more visible than your competition?  Should you downsize staff and outsource more services, or hire very innovative employees? What are the best ways to make your resources go a long way during challenging economic times?

If these are the questions on your mind for your business, please join Innovation Philadelphia for Running on Empty: Make a Little Go a Long Way, a panel discussion and networking reception on December 17, 2008, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m, at the PNC Center (1600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA) in the Center Hall.

Learn how to make a little go a long way, as experienced entrepreneurs and business owners from a variety of industries discuss strategies and personal experiences on how to survive and thrive during challenging economic times. 

The panel will be moderated by Mark Loschiavo, Executive Director of Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship at Drexel University, and President and Founder of First Serve Strategies, a consulting company that provides businesses with business, operational and management strategies.

Panel participants will include:

Malik Boyd, Managing Partner of Premiere Brand Group, a full-service brand marketing, strategy and communications firm located in Philadelphia.

Charnelle Hicks, President and CEO of CHPlanning, a premier provider of planning services in support of urban redevelopment.

David White, Founder of DesignDesign, a firm that provides creative support to engineering and marketing disciplines.

This event is hosted by Innovation Philadelphia and pre-registration is required to attend. The cost to attend is $25, which includes light appetizers and a cash bar. Register today at www.innovationphiladelphia.com.

The Inquirer reports:

Getting a college education in Pennsylvania is more expensive than in many other areas of the country, and students generally graduate with higher debt, says a state education report released today.

The report, The Cost of Higher Education in Pennsylvania, says the state ranks as the sixth most expensive in the country for a public college education - costing $532 over the national average.

The report was presented this morning to the State Board of Education in Harrisburg.

It follows a series of public hearings that the State Board held around Pennsylvania on the affordability of college. The board in September had asked the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the report on college costs in the state.

"The cost of attending college in Pennsylvania is a serious and growing concern," the report said. "...a student's ability to pay for college is a significant factor in preventing Pennsylvania from increasing its college-going rate, graduation rate and its efforts to expand access to lower income populations across the state."

A big concern around the country is rising tuition. Nationally during the last five years, tuition and fees have risen 22.5 percent at public two-year schools to $2,361, 31.1 percent at public four-year schools to $6,185, and 14.1 percent at four-year private schools to $23,712, according to the College Board, which tracks trends.

The Pennsylvania report found that lower income students (from families earning $20,000 or less) are most disadvantaged with about 37 percent of their income going to pay for college after loans. Even at community colleges, 24 percent of their income goes to pay for school after loans, the report found.

Of 10 states in the study, Pennsylvania students graduated with the second highest debt on average - $19,047. Only in New Jersey was it higher: $19,294.

Students from the three state-related institutions, including Temple University and Penn State, graduate with more debt than students in any of the nine comparison states, the report said.

At private colleges, they have roughly the same debt as those in other states.

The department also plans to survey Pennsylvania families on how they pay for college. Results should be available in January.

Tell us what you think!

The photography industry has a significant economic impact in the Philadelphia Region.  And, as in all sectors of the creative industry, technological advances have changed the industry dramatically. 

Joseph Poulshock, photographer and painter, has been involved in the industry for more than 45 years.  “Digital technology has advanced to the point where I can take great photography – almost every picture I take is dramatic and worthy of display.  I can process them for not much money and have the photographs in an hour.” Poulshock went on to say that the Internet offers a great opportunity for “exposing and selling pictures to the public.”

We’ve clearly come a long way from pinhole cameras and camera obscura, the direct forerunner of the camera and first referred to by Aristotle who questioned how the sun can make a circular image when it shines through a square hole. 

Facial recognition software and other new technologies make photography – good photography – accessible to a greater number of people.  At the same time, it makes becoming a great photographer more complicated and more human.  “Our culture is instantly injected with an infinite number of seemingly good photographs.  You can have a technically good photography but still not have the content to make the viewer think,” says James Johnson, Assistant Professor, Chair, Photography and Digital Arts for the Moore College of Art & Design.  “The more complicated technology gets, the more specialization is required and the greater the need for collaboration and communication among the people involved. You need people skills to talk through issues about how things are going to get done.”

Bill Cramer, Director of Photography for WonderfulMachine.com, a web portal dedicated to connecting photographers and clients, discusses three technologies that have dramatically impacted the industry over the past decade.  “Using digital cameras, we can shoot a ‘test’ picture and see it instantly.  If we like it, it's no longer a test, it's a final picture.  And we can make adjustments on the fly to explore a situation much more deeply than we could with film.  When we're satisfied with one situation, we can quickly move on to another without wondering if we've "got it."  Back at our computers, we can process the files ourselves instead of turning it over to a lab.  This allows us the opportunity to turn the pictures around much faster for the client, and even more importantly, have a lot more control over the look of the picture.  Photoshop gives us another dimension of creativity.”

And then there is the ubiquitous Internet.  Cramer continues, “The Internet allows us to deliver pictures quickly, anywhere in the world.  And no more unique originals to get delayed, lost, or damaged.  It's not unusual for photographers to send their client samples of the pictures for approval during a shoot, and make adjustments in real time.”

For Sarah Stolfa, a fine art photographer, technology has brought about substantial changes for her business.  “As a fine artist, I still shoot film but now scan film to make prints with an ink jet printer,” she explained.  Recognizing an unmet need for fine artists in Philadelphia – the majority of who have switched to digital – Stolfa and a partner are preparing to open the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center in the Fishtown/Kensington area next year.  Photographers will be able to rent time and use of equipment, and also take classes.  “Our business will cater to fine artists that formerly printed in the dark room and who want to get and stay up-to-speed in new digital technologies.”   

Studying Photography in Philadelphia

From an academic perspective, Philadelphia schools have a lot to offer.  In fact, says Cramer, “Going back 30 years, the biggest change in the industry was that in the 70s, there was an explosion of universities offering photography programs.”

Project Basho is a photography resource center located on Germantown Avenue in Old Kensington, an artist-concentrated and culturally vibrant section of Philadelphia.  It is a small yet dedicated organization of photographers, run by photographers, for photographers.  With the community darkroom as the locus of the program, Project Basho offers introductory and advanced classes and specialized workshops on historical processes and other formal issues in photography. (www.projectbasho.org)

Moore College of Art & Design offers a BFA program in Photography and Digital Arts that prepares students to pursue a variety of career paths in the field of photography and time- and web-based media, giving them the flexibility to enter many industries, both existing and evolving, that are based in information technology and new digital media.

Antonelli Institute offers occupational degree programs in photography and graphic design/commercial art.  Located in Pennsylvania, the school teaches artistic and technical skills necessary to succeed in the creative visual arts.  Antonelli Institute is known for providing individualized "hands on" instruction in classes taught by working professionals. (www.antonelli.org)

The Art - Photography Option at the Community College of Philadelphia prepares students to continue their studies in fine art photography at an art school.  Combining the offerings from both the Art and Photography Departments in the logical sequence prescribed will facilitate transferability of courses.  This program leads to the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree for students planning to transfer to baccalaureate programs or professional schools. (www.ccp.edu)

Photography programs are also offered at Tyler School of Art where students can receive a BFA or MFA.  The primary objective of the program is to cultivate a blend of technical, conceptual, and critical skills so that one can enter the field as an artist on a professional level.  The level of technical and conceptual sophistication in the photography and digital imaging programs at Tyler exposes the student to many career opportunities. (www.temple.edu/tyler/photography.html)

Photography, in the end, is about people, their talent, their skill, and their passion for their art.  Photographers in Philadelphia understand this, and utilizing technology to optimize their art and their profession and making a place for our region in the international photographic community. 

Gene Marks writes for the Philadelphia Business Journal. His recent article tells people to "get out of the office." He writes:

Here’s an idea: get out of the office.

That’s what Rob Bernstein does. Except he doesn’t do it alone. He brings along his key managers too. Once a month they leave the office and travel all the way … to a Hampton Inn about three miles down the road.

For a morning each month he sits there, shivering in an overly air-conditioned meeting room and talks about the business. With the people that are helping run the business. “It’s the most productive four hours of the month,” Rob told me. “And I really get a chance to catch up with Kenny G’s song collection.”

The whole morning, including the room, costs him about $300. But the return on investment is huge.

There’s no phones. No one’s poking their head in asking for “just a minute.” There are no overlapping meetings. There are no pictures of horsey-faced kids playing soccer or sunburnt bald guys from the last corporate golf outing. It’s just a plain old room where there’s nothing better to do than talk about … the company.

Some people like to get into the numbers at these meetings. But not Rob. He’s into gossip. He wants to talk to his production manager about what jobs are causing problems and what people are creating bottlenecks. He needs reminders from his office manager as to what each person in the office actually does all day. He asks his sales manager about the customers she’s speaking to. Are they happy? Any ideas for new products or services? Rob finds that going offsite opens people up. It makes them more comfortable to talk.

A good penny pincher like Rob knows how to get maximum productivity out of these offsite meetings.

He keeps them short. “No longer than a morning.” He hates those “corporate retreats” that last for days and cost a fortune. No one wants to be there. They want to be with their families. And besides, a typical business owner like Rob has the attention span of a 5 year old. Three or four hours is about all he can take, let alone his employees. I can relate to that.

He switches up the attendees. Different people are invited each time. Some managers don’t always get invited. His employees love to get a chance to leave the plant for a morning, drink coffee and hobnob with the execs. Fresh faces bring fresh ideas. It’s no fun to look at the same tired mugs each month. And management, knowing how the gossip flows at the Hampton Inn, gets nervous when they’re not attending too.

He has a specific agenda for each meeting. Everyone knows what’s going to be discussed in advance. There are no surprises. People have time to prepare. This isn’t some exercise to catch someone off guard. It’s not a game show. Rob needs information and answers to questions. It’s only fair that people can prepare beforehand.

Once a perky employee jumped to her feet and enthusiastically suggested that everyone agree on a list of “action items.” Bob fired her on the spot for being so annoying. But he does keep notes. He assigns follow-ups to people. He sends a written document to everyone so they know who’s responsible. Then he starts with the last meeting’s list at the next meeting. Everyone’s held accountable. Duh.

Are all your meetings in the office? Try something different. Get out. Penny pinchers know the value of a change of scenery. Try taking a deep breath, stepping back, and making sure the boat’s headed in the right direction. Rob’s approach is to do this at the Hampton Inn once a month. It ain’t the Four Seasons … but it’s a whole lot better than his office.

Gene Marks, CPA, is the author of “The Streetwise Small Business Book of Lists” and three other books on small business. He heads The Marks Group (www.pennypinchingtips.com), which provides technology and financial consulting in Bala Cynwyd. Marks was a senior manager with KPMG in Philadelphia for nine years.

Tell us what you think.

Yahoo recently reported on six flexible careers that pay $70k. With the economy on the rocks in addition to balancing a life at home, Yahoo says that certain careers are more flexible than others (and pay well too).

Creative industry jobs software and interior designers made the list. Yahoo reports:

Software Designers

High tech and flex time. Software designers--including game design experts--often hire out on a per-contract basis, working intensive schedules to launch a new product and then enjoying time off between engagements. Some only work on an on-call basis. And job growth will be stupendous, rising by 38 percent during the 2006-2016 decade.

You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in software design or applications, and a master's degree if you hope to run a consultancy. The median 2007 annual wage was $83,130.

Interior Designers

Interior designers also lead the way in the number of self-employed, flexible career professionals with 26 percent running their own companies/consultancies. Train for the field through an associate degree program, but add a bachelor's degree in art or design to advance to the more flexible positions. Study fabrics, CAD design, ergonomics, color theory, and more. The top 50 percent in the field earned on average between $60,200 and $81,800 in 2007.

With the goal to inspire people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, and to make their mark. From November 17-23, 2008, millions of people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things. Thousands of entrepreneurial activities are being planned in more than 75 countries around the world.

And much of the action is taking place in Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia has a long tradition of being a nurturing home to entrepreneurs starting with Ben Franklin, the first and most famous entrepreneur in the U.S.  Today, Philadelphia is home to successful start-up businesses, growing companies, colleges and universities that educate budding entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who fund start-up companies. In addition, organizations such as Innovation Philadelphia, the Ben Franklin Technology Center, and the Science Center provide resources and expertise to entrepreneurs, which in turn grows the economy and creates jobs in the Philadelphia Region.

The Global Entrepreneurship event in Philadelphia, UNLEASHPHILLY, will take place on November 18th at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia) from 10: 00 am to 4:00 pm.  This day-long event will include panel discussions, a networking lunch, and keynote speaker Richard Caruso, Ph.D, the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Founder and Chairman of Integra LifeSciences Corporation. Panels at UnleashPhilly include a “Panel for Success”, “Music, Social Media, and Money” and “Impact of President Elects Policy’s on Eastern Pennsylvania Business.”

"The objective of UNLEASHPHILLY is to uncover and harness the potential of Eastern Pennsylvania's entrepreneurial assets, and to create meaningful sustainable connections amongst the participants from all walks of life," said Carmen Scott Dawson, State Director for Global Entrepreneurship Week and President of Advanz, LLC.

"UNLEASHPHILLY and Global Entrepreneurship Week will bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, economists, serial entrepreneurs and venture groups from around the world in an effort to empower individuals to create and foster the entrepreneurial spirit,” Dawson added. “Philadelphia is the birthplace of American entrepreneurship and we will demonstrate that to the 76 countries participating in the Week through our collective creativity. Every entrepreneurship enthusiast is urged to attend, learn, interact and have lunch on us."

Entrepreneurship is much more than a business term. Entrepreneurs come in many forms and in many professions, from finance and marketing to design and education and social entrepreneurship. Many of these topics will be the focus of additional events taking place around the City throughout November and Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The Founder Factory
The 2008 Founder Factory is focused on the ecosystem that's needed in Philly to support entrepreneurs in the region. On Thursday, November 13, 2008, five entrepreneurs from all backgrounds will discuss their journeys as entrepreneurs and provide feedback to three new start ups. The Founder Factory will be held at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Speakers at the Founder Factory include accomplished technology CEO Lucinda Holt, seasoned entrepreneur turned venture capitalist Gil Beyda, partner in Morgan Lewis's Business and Finance Practice Stephen M. Goodman, active entrepreneur and investor in the Internet industry Josh Kopelman, and consultant Bob Bickel. Tickets are available online at www.founderfactory.com.

Wharton Small Business Development Center
The First Step Workshop at the Wharton SBDC will assist entrepreneurs in starting down the path to successful business ownership by helping to evaluate business ideas, develop a business plan, and explore financing options. The workshop, taking place at the Jon Huntsman Hall (3730 Walnut Street, Philadelphia) on November 18, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will address the key areas to consider in successfully starting and managing a small business and provides entrepreneurs with the tools to assess and minimize risk through research and planning.

Entrepreneurs who have successfully completed the First Step workshop can schedule one-on-one meetings with business consultants to help turn their business ideas into a reality. To register for the First Step workshop contact the Wharton SBDC at (215) 898-4861 or visit http://whartonsbdc.wharton.upenn.edu/.

Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship
The Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship at Drexel University will also be holding events for entrepreneurs in all stages of the business life cycle.  Events being held throughout Global Entrepreneurship Week include “What It Means To Be An Entrepreneur”, “Open Innovation - Sharing Intellectual Capital Innovations for the Aging Baby Boomer Market”, “The Meaning and Value of Entrepreneurship Globally” and webcasts for students on innovation and entrepreneurship.

For a full list of Baiada Center events, please visit www.lebow.drexel.edu/centers/baiada/GEW/schedule.php.

While in a tough economic environment, it is seemingly more difficult for entrepreneurs to gain financial support for their ideas and innovations, these events will help entrepreneurs to connect with other entrepreneurs and with organizations that provide resources to assist in making their dreams of owning their own business a reality. A strong entrepreneurial community is essential to any region’s economic growth. Get involved this month to learn about the entrepreneurial community in the Philadelphia Region. For more information about additional events, times and locations of Global Entrepreneurship Week, please visit www.unleashphilly.org.

Tell us what you think.

Philadelphia may be thousands of miles from Paris runways but when it comes to fashion, we may be a lot closer than we think.  The fashion industry in the Philadelphia region is active and flourishing, with strong academic programs, fashion celebrations, and new, innovative designers making a splash.

For those interested in fashion as a career, Philadelphia has many great options.  Moore College of Art & Design, for instance, the first and only women's art college in the nation, has strong ties to the fashion industry that date back to 1848.  Moore’s founder Sarah Peter was the wife of Philadelphia's British Consul and an advocate of women's education and advancement.
 
Today, Moore fashion graduates can be found in top fashion houses such as Diane von Furstenberg and Walter Baker.

Drexel's Fashion Design program, part of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, is nationally recognized as a top-flight program featuring a unique six-month Co-op experience that complements coursework in conceptual design, presentation skills, CAD, and manufacturing procedures. The curriculum covers all facets of fashion design, from men's, women's, and children's wear, to swimwear and couture and prepares students for careers in fashion design, styling, advertising, and computer-aided and technical design.

A study abroad program at the London College of Fashion during sophomore year offers an international perspective of the fashion world. And what would a fashion education be without a fashion show? Students conclude their studies senior year with the presentation of their collection in the Drexel Fashion Show, a high-caliber event featuring professional models and prominent local media coverage.

An Antoinette Westhphal student was the first American to win the 2005 International Competition for Young Fashion Designers in Paris. 

“Philadelphia University’s Fashion Design program has been receiving international recognition since the early 1990s,” according to Clara Henry, Director of Philadelphia University’s Fashion Design Program.  And it’s growing due to its program, its reputation, and the media.  “Philadelphia University’s Fashion Design program is one of the largest and most successful in the country.  In recent years, because of increased exposure in popular culture – through television shows such as Project Runway and coverage of the entertainment industry and awards shows -- more and more students are interested in a career in the fashion industry,” said Henry.
 
“Philadelphia is definitely an innovative place for fashion.  In fact, many of our graduates have remained in the city and some have started their own companies, such as Os Os clothing, started by Bethany Santos and Carly Franks. This is an environmentally conscious firm that individualizes each garment through the use of fabrication,” Henry adds.

Local fashion designers and Smak Parlour shop owners, Abby Kessler and Katie Loftus, credit Philadelphia as being a creative, accessible, and affordable city to live and own a business in.
                              
Fashion is fun but designers have to be technologically astute as well.   Moore, for instance, offers a certificate in Fashion Technology.  “Technological advances in the industry have improved speed-to-market of products, reducing lag time and turnaround time,” said  Henry.  “At Philadelphia University, cross-disciplinary work among the programs results in a cooperative design process.  This unique collaborative experience emphasizes and results in innovative concepts and products. At the same time, University scientists are doing cutting-edge research on the safety of apparel and textiles and designing the next generation of protective apparel for the military, so science and design go hand-in-hand.”

“New programs and software such as U4ria and Gerber Technology have improved the fashion design industry tremendously from pattern grading to industrial cutting.  These programs allow companies to create designs quicker and easier-what was once completed by hand can now be completed digitally -thus improving production, accuracy and cutting cost making all companies more efficient.  In the world of fashion today there is an enormous promotion to support green products and fabrics, which influence a lot of designers-such as safer dye treatments, organic fabrics and so forth.  All of these concepts add more options for material selection along with the standard natural and synthetic fabric,” explains Crystal Shamblee, Academic Director of Fashion Design for The Art Institute of Philadelphia.

In Celebration of Fashion

Philadelphia not only teaches fashion, educating many of the best in the business, but as a region, it also celebrates this thriving industry. 

According to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, “In the last half-century Philadelphia has produced a number of exceptional talents in the field of fashion design. James Galanos, Gustave (Gus) Tassell and Ralph Rucci are three Philadelphia natives who have achieved international stature.”  The work of these artists was celebrated in an exhibit titled A Passion for Perfection, which opened in September of 2007.  “Our inaugural exhibition in the Spain Gallery will highlight the work of three remarkable artists with Philadelphia connections,” Curator of Costume and Textiles Dilys Blum said. “We hope this new gallery and the adjacent study center will become a resource and a destination for future generations of designers, and for all those with an interest in textile and costume history.”

Earlier this year, Casey Saccomanno, a senior fashion design major at the Philadelphia University, was awarded one of the first $25,000 Geoffrey Beene National Scholarships at the YMA Geoffrey Beene Fashion Scholarship Dinner in New York. 

And then there are Philadelphia shows, growing in attendance and reputation.   

Another event showcasing Philadelphia fashion, entering its 15th year, is the Philadelphia Phashion Phest. The event dates back to 1994 when modeling agency maven Sharon Phillips Waxman decided to put together a show to showcase fashion retailers from across the Delaware Valley.  Dubbed Phashion Phest, its mission is to showcase upscale fall fashion and beauty for both women and men that are accessible to them in the Delaware Valley region. Each year more than 20 retailers participate.

Through the years this fashion event has seen steady growth. In 1994 the city of Philadelphia created the “Phashion Phest Philadelphia Award” which is presented to the outstanding individual who has made a tremendous contribution to the Philadelphia Area fashion industry. (www.thisweekinphilly.com)

Philadelphia is truly becoming a fashion force, nationally and globally.  Schools boast increased interest in their programs, a growing student body, and greater number of graduates who stay in the region to live and work. It is their passion and talent that will ensure Philadelphia’s place as an international design and fashion center.  New York and Paris – here comes Philadelphia! 

 Tell us what you think.

“In many industries, the number of businesses that have turned their attention to the value of design has approached a tipping point.  Mainstream business media such as Business Week and Fast Company have declared design strategy ‘the new black,’ moving away from Six Sigma and other respected methodologies upon which many corporations have built their operational practices.  The conversation about why design is increasingly important for product differentiation, business problem solving, and global competitive advantage is a lively international one - weaving through the agendas of everything from the World Economic Forum in Davos to design conferences in Singapore, Boston, Aspen, Toronto and Shanghai.”
-- Dr. Larry Thompson, President, Ringling School of Art & Design

And perhaps nowhere is this more true than in the Philadelphia region - especially from October 16th to October 22nd, when design leaders and innovators will meet at DesignPhiladelphia to celebrate our vibrant and growing design community.

DesignPhiladelphia began in 2005 with a single goal: to create an exhibition to show off the work of students from the city’s seven colleges with design departments — Penn, Drexel, Temple, University of the Arts, Moore College, the Art Institute and Philadelphia University.   The intent was to bring together the seven schools of design with the professional world and strategically promote the world of design that exists in Philadelphia.

Now in its 4th year, DesignPhiladelphia has evolved into the largest annual celebration of design to be found anywhere across the U.S., featuring 90 events, 85 participating organizations and showcasing the work of more than 500 designers.   Innovation Philadelphia is proud to be a Champion sponsor of this world-class event.

“Design affects everyone and everything every moment of every day. It is architecture, product design, graphic design, urban planning, fashion, landscape architecture, industrial design, and multimedia,” said Beth Van Why, Project Manager for DesignPhiladelphia and an adjunct professor in the industrial design department at The University of the Arts.  “Design affects society, work, life, interactions, commutes, education – it is really in every form of our lives – the poster we look at while waiting for the bus that takes us to a building where we use computers to communicate and produce; it helps us decide what box of cereal to buy, which coat to wear, how we carry food home from the store, and so on.”

In addition to enhancing our lives, the economic impact of design is impressive as well. 

• Of the 11,700 degrees awarded during the 2005-2006 academic year in for-profit creative economy fields, 16.1% were in design. (National Center for Education Statistics; 2006)
• The Philadelphia Region boasts nearly 56,000 for-profit, creative economy firms and 766,000 creative industry workers.  Of these, 18% are in design, with a direct output of $2.7 billion. (Creative Footprint, 2008)
• The design fields account for regional employment of almost 75,000 workers, or approximately 16.8 of the creative occupation sector employment in the Philadelphia MSA.  (Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, (2005))

National publications from the New York Times and Modernism Magazine to regional publications including the Inquirer and Philadelphia Magazine have recognized this event and its growing reputation.  For instance, when describing the event, the New York Times says that the printed program of events “looks more like a book than a pamphlet – a reflection, no doubt, of Phillys’ expanding creative economy.  The local design culture is springing up in previously untrodden fringes of the city, while the mushrooming of design studios, boutiques, and galleries and the recent reinvention of several venerable cultural institutions attest to the spirit of optimism ushered in by a new mayor and his commitment to the arts.” 

“Even for Philadelphians oblivious to design, the festival will be hard to miss,” said Philadelphia Magazine

“We’re four years old,” says Hilary Jay, Director, DesignPhiladelphia and Executive Director of The Design Center at Philadelphia University.  “Our goal was to get as many people from as many design disciplines as possible engaged in helping to tell the story of design.”  And by all accounts, they have been successful, with attendance expected to double – even triple, last year’s 140,000.  The theme this year is ‘Down to Earth:  Evolving Design in the 21st Century’ and so”, says Jay, “(Many) of the 90+ events address the global need for change and what designers can [do] and are going  [to do] to help us all think about where we’re going.”

True to its original goal, the participating schools and the specific design disciplines represented in this exhibition include Art Institute of Philadelphia (multi-media design), Drexel University (interior design), Moore College of Art and Design (fashion design), Philadelphia University (textile design), Temple University/Tyler School of Art (graphic design), University of the Arts (industrial design) and University of Pennsylvania/Penn Praxis (architecture and urban design).

DesignPhiladelphia is an opportunity for anyone and everyone – whether they are designers, design students, individuals interested in design, or general citizens in the region – to experience the world of design. Open studios showcase how design happens and where it takes place; exhibitions showcase the work of designers in, for, and around the city; lectures and symposia create conversations about design; events create new venues and moments to launch products, talk to designers, create new design, and workshops provide hands-on experiences within design. “DesignPhiladelphia 2008 will reach more than one million people through advertising and press, and hopes to have more than 200,000 people attend the 90+ events,” added Van Why.

Program highlights include:

• The Challenge of Interior Design
•  A Clean Break: Pop up Neighborhood
• Designers Breakfast @ USArtists
• Nature, Form, and Spirit
• Organic Mechanics
• PRODUCT DESIGN: Surpriseutility
• STARE: a live model installation of permanent body design
• Hard Hat and Finished Tour of Green Affordable Philadelphia
• Art Buggy Derby 3.0
• Art for Lunch: Film Screening of "The Powers of Ten"
• Terror Behind the Walls, Halloween at Eastern State Penitentiary
• Creative Entrepreneur Expo, part of the Closing Reception of DesignPhiladelphia

Highlights also include the eight installment of the silent auction party of the year, the first Philadelphia Emerging Architecture Prize, and the [Spot] awards, where Philadelphia artists and designers claim the urban parking spot—an idle space between the bustling streets and sidewalks of the city – for a series of outdoor interventions that explore the potential dynamics of this momentary urban space.

And much, much more.

New this year, Innovation Philadelphia is turning the table on the traditional job fair. At the Creative Entrepreneur Expo, design entrepreneurs and freelancers will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and portfolios for business professionals to preview and contract their services.  The closing reception will follow, to celebrate the success of this year’s week-long celebration.

“The Creative Entrepreneur Expo is one of the only events providing business opportunities for design entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia Region,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia. “We wanted to participate to provide the opportunity for these freelancers and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in the region.”

Admission for the event is free but pre-registration required.  For more information or to pre-register, visit www.innovationphiladelphia.com.

“Philadelphia historically has been a center for design and continues to be home for internationally-recognized designers and firms,” adds Van Why.  DesignPhiladelphia is the place to be.
So no matter what your design interest,  DesignPhiladelphia offers the opportunity to  explore the city, be enriched and enlightened, talk shop, and bask in the atmosphere of creativity.  To view DesignPhiladelphia’s complete and most up-to-date schedule or to register, please visit www.designphiladlephia.org.

While the goals and aspirations of our founding fathers were lofty and far-sighted, it seems unlikely that even Ben Franklin could have foreseen the impact of the music industry in his city.  From classical to hip-hop, Philadelphia is the home of composers, performers, and production professionals in every genre.  And not only that, music fans in Philly enjoy a reputation as being one of the “most dependable audiences on the planet” according to music author Richie Unterberger.

According to Econsult, the music industry cluster is a significant player in the Philadelphia economy with an annual impact of nearly $1.9 billion for the City and over $4.9 billion for the region (“Potential Economic Impacts of Universal Companies’ Proposed Entertainment and Economic Development Strategy”).  In 2005, the music, film and video production industries employed 7,000 people in the region, earning $.3 billion, with an average wage of $43,100. (Creative Economy Economic Impact Study: 2007 conducted by Econsult) Music is clearly big business – and getting bigger.

There’s no question that from composition to performance and from the Kimmel Center to the World Cafe Live, from *** Clark to the Philadelphia Opera Company, and from The Khyber to the Philly Fringe, Philadelphia is a great place for music lovers – whatever your taste. 

On the performance side, major music festivals in Philadelphia include the summer concert series and ethnic festivals at Penn’s Landing, the concerts Under the Stars, the Bach Festival, the long-standing Philadelphia Folk Festival, the XPoNential Music Festival, and venues from large to small that feature Irish music, folk music, chamber music, an abundance of jazz, and yes, string bands.  Original music makers too can find a home in Philadelphia through the Original Music Association of Philadelphia, dedicated to the advancement of the original music scene and the Indie artist in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Artists like Philly too.  Singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata, whose songs have been used in a host of TV shows including ER, The O.C., Nip/Tuck, Brothers & Sisters, Men in Trees and How I Met Your Mother, recently told David Hiltbrand of the Inquirer (posted Sept. 23, 2008) “I  love Philly because it's very sweet and laid back and yet metropolitan. And the music scene here is very cool and interesting."

Philadelphia’s musical reputation extends far beyond our borders but recent, regional awards are worth noting. 

This month, the Rhythm ‘n Blues Foundation announced their 15th Pioneer Award winners at a gala hosted by music legends Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Raitt and Jerry Butler.  Winners included Chaka Khan who received the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award; Bill Withers, Teena Marie and Sugar Pie DeSanto received the Foundation’s Individual Artist Award; The Whispers and Kool & the Gang received the Foundation’s Sidemen Award.

And recently, the The Philadelphia Music Project awarded almost $1 million to 19 local music organizations in support of 141 concerts and residency programs.

Academic institutions are on board as well.  The Curtiss Institute of Music is world-renowned.  Temple University’s Boyer School of Music has a national reputation and Drexel University’s Music Industry Program and its MAD Dragon enterprise have grown exponentially.  Hundreds of students apply for only 54 class seats in a program that is among the University’s most selective. Music Industry’s enterprise now includes the only student-run record label with national distribution through Rykodisc, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and a host of related activities related to music publishing, promotion and video productions.
 
Speaking of production, the region is home to some of the nation’s top production facilities, many of which owe their start to the historic foundation laid by Sigma Sound Studios, who opened their doors in 1967 and was famous for their role in creating the “The Sound Of Philadelphia.”  According to their web site, “You know the sound; you hear it in the recordings of the OJays, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, the Stylistics, the Spinners, MFSB, Grover Washington Jr. and Patti LaBelle, it’s “The Sound of Philadelphia”.

According to Xponential Music Blog, Sigma Sound Studio was the first sound studio in the country to use console automation, and the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording. In the 1970s, SSS was associated with Philadelphia soul and the sound of Philadelphia International records. The Philadelphia Sound orchestrated by writer/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were recorded in Sigma Sounds Studios.

There’s no question that technology has changed the business dramatically in recent years, allowing bands and record labels to produce at a level that they could not have achieved a decade ago, the regional industry has real clout on a national level.

For instance, MilkBoy Studios in Ardmore has hosted top names such as Dave Matthews, Gomez, Ashanti and many more.   MilkBoy also runs MilkBoy Coffee, a venue for local artists as well as national names.  Philly, says Jamie Lokoff, owner of MilkBoy, is one of the country’s top five markets for production.  “I think our reputation has preceded us,” he says.  “Through the years, there have been big artists that have broken out,” he added, citing Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff.  

And The Studio, located in Philadelphia, has worked with top names that include The Roots, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot, James Poyser, Erykah Badu, Scott Storch, along with many other world-class artists and producers.
 
To find out more about the music scene in Philadelphia:

Read Music critic Dan DeLuca’s blog "In the Mix," at http://go.philly.com/inthemix.

The Philadelphia Music Scene; Then and Now

http://www.gophila.com/Go/PressRoom/factsheets/backgrounders1/The_Philadelphia_Music_Scene_Then_And_Now_Backgrounder.aspx

MSN Travel recently named Princeton University one of the 15 Beautiful College Campuses.

Noted for the school's prime location to NYC and Philadelphia, it was also praised for the scenery and  notable for speaker series, with ecent lecturers including Jon Stewart and Colin Powell.

Check out the top schools.

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Innovation Philadelphia and PhillyCreativeGuide.com will host “createAdelphia: the Philly Creative Jobs Event,” a creative industries career fair on Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at World Cafe Live.  Job seekers with 3-5 years experience will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with potential employers, as well as access the first-ever regional, interactive web site where creative industry jobs will be posted along with industry requests for proposals (RFPs).

“createAdelphia is about connecting creative talent in this region with companies who need for-profit, creative industry services, such as graphic and web design, communications and marketing and information technology services,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia.  “We are opening doors and starting conversations at the event and then strengthening business relationships over the long term online.  It is all part of establishing the Greater Philadelphia Region as a leader and world-class destination for for-profit, creative economy industries.”

“We developed Philly Creative Jobs with one thing in mind: to serve the region's creative community,” added Bill Haley, Evangelist for PhillyCreativeGuide.com. “We want to help create opportunities, fill needs and help grow the creative community that we're so proud to be a part of.”

Jobs in the following industries will be offered at createAdelphia: Architecture, Engineering and Planning; Communications and Marketing; Digital Media and Programming; Fashion Design, Graphic and Visual Arts and Multimedia Design; Information Technology; Interior and Industrial Design; Music, Film and Video Production; Photography; Product and Merchandising Design; and Software Development.

Employers in Attendance

Employers looking to hire creative talent will have hundreds of jobs available in person and online at createAdelphia. In addition, job seekers can access a first-ever regional, interactive web site, Philly Creative Jobs, to find creative industry jobs and creative industry requests for proposals (RFPs).

Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), a division of Comcast Corporation, will be in attendance at createAdelphia. CIM develops and operates Internet businesses focused on entertainment, information and communication, including Comcast.net, and products include Fandango.com, Fancast.com, Ziddio.com, GameInvasion.net, and thePlatform, the industry-leading provider of digital media publishing solutions over broadband and wireless networks. They will be recruiting for positions in marketing, graphic arts, information technology, digital media, film and video production and multimedia design.

Local architecture firm TJD Architects P.C., located in New Jersey, will be recruiting at createAdelphia for experienced project architects with at least three years experience. IEI Group, an interior design/architectural firm offering a broad range of architecture, interior design, facilities planning services, project management, and procurement services, will also be recruiting at createAdelphia.

In addition, there will be plenty of career opportunities for job seekers specializing in graphic and visual arts and multimedia design. Among employers recruiting these kinds of creative positions are Disc Makers, PointRoll and the BOSS Group.

Additional employers attending createAdelphia include: Marketing Capital Management, FRONTIER2, Liberty Personnel Services, Inc., Cadient Group, Inc., Environmental Tectonics Corporation, Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, Digitas Health, AXIS HEALTHCARE, IEI Group, Brownstein Group, Advanta Bank Corp., Blue Plate Minds, GSI Interactive, Phlare Magazine and Aquent.

There is still time to register your company at createAdelphia, to recruit the best and the brightest creative talent in the Philadelphia Region. To date, 350 job seekers have registered for createAdelphia. Don’t miss the opportunity to tap into the tremendous creative talent looking for jobs in the region. Click here to register.

createAdelphia is one of Innovation Philadelphia’s many initiatives to grow the region’s for-profit, creative economy. The purpose of createAdelphia is to not only help employers find experienced creative professionals, but to also help retain creative talent in the region.

createAdelphia is being sponsored by Aquent, the world’s leading marketing and design staffing agency. createAdelphia is also being supported by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia and Phlare Magazine.

World Cafe Live is located at 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.  Admission is free for job seekers and only $100 for employers.  Pre-registration is required at www.innovationphiladelphia.com.

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The Inquirer reports that Unisys Corp. cannot put up its sign on Philadelphia's Two Liberty Place skyscraper, the Zoning Board of Adjustments voted unanimously this morning.

Unisys spokesman James Kerr said the company is "disappointed by the decision." The computer software company said it would now have to make a decision on whether to continue with its plans to move its world headquarters and 225 employees into the city.

Zoning board chairman Susan Jaffe said that "we recognize and support" the city's efforts to attract businesses to Philadelphia. But, she said, the board has to enforce the zoning code as written.

The zoning code does not permit signs larger than 100 square feet and higher than the bottom of the second floor unless the applicant can prove a hardship, the Inquirer said. 

Tell us what you think.

“I’ve been an admirer of the cultural sector [in Philadelphia] for many years, the last 15 years or so,” Gary Steuer says. Come October, Steuer will take office as the Chief Cultural Officer for the city of Philadelphia.

Steuer currently serves as Vice President for Private Sector Affairs at Americans for the Arts, as well as Executive Director of the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts. In this capacity, he has worked with the Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia as well as the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, so he is no stranger to the arts community in Philadelphia.

Steuer says that there is tremendous energy, excitement and creativity in Philadelphia, which is what excites him about his new position come October. This is an opportunity to help continue to move the city forward, he says. Part of the appeal of the position was adding a larger scope to the office – by broadening the focus beyond non-profit arts and culture.
 
“At this point, there is a lot of work that remains to be done [within the new office],” Steuer says. The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will have to examine the role that the arts play in virtually every aspect of civic life in the city, he says. The newly restored office must determine what they can do to support the arts and the creative economy, an important component of what makes the city a great place to live and work, Steuer adds.

The new office will also examine ways to stimulate the for- and non-profit creative industries in Philadelphia. “We need to look at how we can foster arts and culture and the creative economy,” Steuer says. The new office must tap into Philadelphia’s creative workforce and arts education in Philadelphia.

All of his previous work experiences prepare him to take office as Chief Cultural Office in October. “They all add up to where I am now, in terms of what I know and the experiences that I have,” Steuer says. His previous job experiences have allowed him to work on fostering creativity and innovation, as well as cultural tourism. 

As Vice President for Private Sector Affairs at Americans for the Arts, Steuer leads the effort to stimulate private sector support for the arts, including promoting partnerships between the arts and business, as well as overseeing services to the national network of Arts & Business Councils and the United Arts Funds. He also oversees the National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP), MetLife Forums, and the Arts & Business Council of New York, which operates as a division of Americans for the Arts.

Prior to working at the Arts & Business Council Steuer ran National Actors Theatre on Broadway, was a program director at the New York State Council on the Arts, served as managing director of the Vineyard Theatre, and produced several commercial theatrical productions. He has written, lectured and taught extensively on arts management and policy issues.

Karen Davis, President and CEO of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, was a member of the search committee for the Chief Cultural Officer. “Gary has a breadth of skills and knowledge of the arts,” Davis says. In addition, his involvement in creative economy work, within private sectors and foundations, gave him an edge as an applicant. “[He] comes with an understanding of how to cultivate support of arts and culture,” she says.

“Clearly the city benefits from a strong economy and strong creative economy,” Steuer says. “[It is] in the city’s interest to do whatever it can to foster the for-profit, creative economy.”

This positive change for the city will have a tremendous impact on the for-profit, creative economy, a $60 billion industry in the Philadelphia Region. The city’s attention to the importance of the creative economy by re-establishing this office reiterates the great importance of the creative industries to the City of Philadelphia and to the City's economic prosperity.

We want to hear from you.

MyPartTimePro reports that fuel prices and worsening traffic are driving 26% of employees to consider changing jobs to improve their commutes.

“The Impact of Commuting on Employees,” a survey conducted by BusinessWeek Research Services and commissioned by TransitCenter, Inc., found that:

• 48% of employees say their commute is getting worse.
• 24% of respondents say they are late to work at least three times a month because of traffic.
• 31% of people who live in the suburbs or rural areas and travel to jobs in the city are willing to take a different job to improve their commute.
• 46% of employees who live in the city and reverse commute would consider taking a new job for a better commute.
• The increased frustration is building a bigger appetite for commuter-focused relief in the workforce.

When asked what commuter-related benefits would be most attractive in their new jobs, employees cited:

• Flextime (79%)
• Telecommuting (72%)
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (54%)
• Subsidies for pre-tax commuter benefits (47%)

Employer Responses

MyPartTimePRO.com also reported that employers are finding different ways to help employees hold down the cost and aggravation of commuting. Here are some creative examples:

• The Principal Financial Group arranges free bus rides with the local transit authority for its employees.
• The New Belgium Brewing Company in Ft. Collins, CO provides employees with new bicycles on their one-year anniversary as an enticement to ride to work rather than drive.
• At Kent State University in Ohio, 78 of 94 custodial staffers took up the university’s offer to work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.
• Offering alternative work programs that lessen the cost and struggle of commuting build good will among employees and show your commitment to retaining them.

About MyPartTimePRO.com

MyPartTimePRO.com is the job search Web site that connects educated and accomplished individuals with employers who hire flexible, professional-level staff. They specialize in the following areas:

Engineering, pharmaceutical and insurance giants seeking part-time or telecommuting staff.
Recruiters, law firms and non-profit agencies in need of temporary or project-based employees.
Public relations/marketing, IT and accounting firms in search of freelance or seasonal staff.
Healthcare facilities, educational institutions and consulting practices who hire short-term or job-sharing employees. And many more!

On July 18, 2008, Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an order creating the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. In addition, Mayor Nutter announced Gary Steuer as Chief Cultural Officer, who will begin his term in October.

The re-establishment of this office fulfills a promise that Mayor Nutter emphasized during his campaign; to restore an office that was cut from the City’s budget four years ago. Mayor Nutter also re-established the Cultural Advisory Council, which will advise his administration on issues related to arts and culture, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. Joe Kluger, associate principal at the arts-consulting firm WolfBrown, will head the council.

“We are very serious about arts and culture and the creative economy here in Philadelphia," said Mayor Nutter, who was given a standing ovation by the packed room of arts community members who attended the announcement. "Art and culture are not just about pretty pictures and performances. . . . They are also an economic development tool, a tremendous asset for the city."

The City of Philadelphia reports that the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will be housed in the Mayor’s office. Responsibilities of the office include: improving access to the arts for both residents and visitors; expanding arts education for young people; overseeing all of the City’s arts programs; supporting the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector; coordinating with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s art efforts; and serving as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions.

This positive change for the city will have a tremendous impact on the for-profit, creative economy, a $60 billion industry in the Philadelphia Region. Mayor Nutter’s attention to the importance of the creative economy by re-establishing this office reiterates the great importance of the creative industries to the City of Philadelphia and to the City’s economic prosperity.

Members of the for-profit, creative economy are excited about this proactive step to enhance Philadelphia’s creative economy. “The mayor gets it. He knows that a serious commitment to the [creative economy] is essential for attracting young people to Philadelphia,” said David Fish, Executive Director of Assembly, a newly-opened production and post-production company based in Manayunk. “A youthful, vibrant population that both creates and seeks out arts and culture can have a huge impact on the Philadelphia's overall economy. It's a great move.”

Matthew Fisher, President of Night Kitchen Interactive, says that the reopening of the office is a great move for the City. “It’s a sign that our city is serious about embracing the next generation of Philadelphians.  It’s a generation that’s creative, tech-savvy and enthusiastic about putting Philly on the map. They want our city to be recognized not just for its magnificent heritage, but for the creative contributions that they are making, online and on the town. The city’s new office can be a great connector, facilitator and promoter. Creatives need a voice, and a platform.”

Fisher adds that the administration is starting to understand the importance of the creative economy.  “Mayor Nutter didn’t just open re-open the old office, he’s clearly re-envisioned it by both including the term ‘creative economy’ in the title and in his selection of Gary Steuer, a top-tier expert in how arts and business benefit each other,” Fisher says.

Hilary Jay, Executive Director of the Design Center at Philadelphia University, adds that the addition of the creative economy to the new office means that the Mayor must value both the financial strength and citywide enrichment that innovative institutions and businesses bring to Philadelphia and the region.

According to Fisher, when art thrives, so does the creative economy – and everything else that goes with it. “But it’s not just about dollars and contracts and the here and now.  It’s about engaging that next generation of audiences and benefactors, and showcasing Philadelphia’s cultural riches to a young, talented pool of employees, artists and citizens,” he says.

The Art Czar

Gary Steuer, former vice president of Americans for the Arts, a New York-based non-profit, will be the first chief cultural office of the Office of the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.

“After an exhaustive national search, I am tremendously pleased to have Gary Steuer join my Administration,” Mayor Nutter said at a press conference. He commends Steuer for his experiences as an arts manager and advocate and said that his unique perspective will help grow the arts community. “[This is] an important step to creating a healthier more vibrant Philadelphia,” Mayor Nutter said.

“I am thrilled by the opportunity the Mayor has provided me to work with him, his team and the great arts and civic leaders of Philadelphia to serve this city,” Steuer said at a press conference. Steuer also stressed the importance to integrate the arts in City programs and policies, for there is a growing recognition of the important of the arts in workforce development, business attraction and retention, community revitalization, civic engagement and tourism. “Mayor Nutter understands this and I look forward to serving him and the people of Philadelphia,” he added.

New York is a great arts town, Steuer told the Inquirer. "But Philadelphia is on a scale somewhat smaller, which makes it an exciting place to implement change."

“Choosing to include the for-profit creative industry is important for the City of Philadelphia,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia. “Combined, the for-profit and non-profit creative economy is one of the largest economic generators in the region. This can establish a unique identity for the region to stand out from its competitors, attract new residents and businesses, grow the population and increase the tax base of Philadelphia.”