A thought - creativity can not be packaged nor does it always lead to innovation. Creativity often comes from the most unusual of circumstances, it's messy at times so the question really is - how do we cultivate talent and nurture creativity where it already exists? Portland is a hot bed of creativity, no doubt about it, but where are the tools that will allow this creativity to truly flourish? As Sir Ken Robinson says 'We are educating people out of their creativity,' so clearly he feels the issues begin in the classroom, therefore we need a strong education system in Portland and that is something we clearly don't have today. Music and art classes for instance are always the first to have their budgets cut when they should be the last. We have a long way to go.

Dave Allen,