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The future seems a worrying place – what with uncertainty around global financial markets, the way we treat our environment, and cutbacks here, there and everywhere. Creative minds are just as prone to doubt, fear and concern about the big challenges that confront us all.

The future seems a worrying place – what with uncertainty around global financial markets, the way we treat our environment, and cutbacks here, there and everywhere. Creative minds are just as prone to doubt, fear and concern about the big challenges that confront us all. But we also have the extraordinary ability to use seemingly intractable problems to spur new ideas, innovations and conversations through the power of our creative work.

Talking about the future, Survive & Thrive 2012 focuses on sustainability - of self, practice, communities and organisations, and explores how having a sustainable creative ecology serves the world’s communities. There are big issues to grapple with and at Survive & Thrive we will begin a number of conversations.

• Going Global: In a world of niche cultural markets that can be accessed from anywhere, anytime and by virtually anyone, what current and future trends help or hinder New Zealand-based creatives to achieve global cut-through and success?

• Site Pacific: To continue to grow New Zealand’s creative economy, how can we most effectively value and support the country’s creative talent?

• For a Better World: To avoid change purely in reaction to world crises, how can we co-create, re-create, and pro-create to sustain our future?

• Becoming Viable: How do you get to the top of your game with your values intact? A viable career in the creative sector includes successfully negotiating the tension between creative integrity and commercial realities. To do that well requires skills, knowledge, capability and confidence.

Candy Elsmore, Project Director from Arts Regional Trust, says building a future focussed sustainable organisation or business in the creative economy has its challenges: “It takes creativity, thinking and sheer hard work, especially if your ideas are ahead of the crowd. This year, Survive & Thrive is especially focussed on people, projects and organisations who, through their work, showcase leading edge approaches.”

At Survive & Thrive 2012, you can build the day that you want. Be inspired by our guest speakers, get down to business in the workshops with people who have walked the walk and connect with people in a meaningful way in our networking activities. If that isn’t enough, you can get practical tips and tools from specialist advisors [acting as a sounding board for brilliant ideas and sticky problems], as well as hang out at the expo where you can connect with people and groups able to help you on your mission to survive and thrive in today’s environment.

Survive & Thrive is Auckland’s smart-thinking event for innovative people working in New Zealand’s creative economy, and this year takes place at the University of Auckland Business School on 5 July.
You’d be mad to miss it!