Adam Brouillette. Photo credit: Ryan Monroe (CCAD 2011)

By Adam Brouillette

The older I get, the more the concept of “creative community” comes into focus. The world’s desire and need for creative individuals is becoming increasingly important. But our society and educational systems have been designed to teach us rules—suffocating affective learning and replacing it with standardization. Standardization has led to complacency and lack of innovative progress. In order for us all to develop, I believe it is important for society, businesses, and individuals to understand the values associated with creativity.

More importantly, I believe it is the responsibility of creative people themselves to value what they offer and to assert that value with a common voice. The concept of “thinking outside the box” has become a catch phrase, something businesses are proud to say so they sound like innovators. Creative people need to reclaim their place in that phrase. Truly creative minds have the ability to offer different perspectives, to pioneer, and to execute. When we learn to speak collectively of unconventional thinking and action as desirable skills, we move from the fringe of an operation to the forefront.

I’m not suggesting that this is an easy task. Creative individuals are often just that: individual. We have to remember that central to the concept of community is a willingness to accept the ideas of others. To partner with other disciplines and learn from other methods. To execute together. This cross-pollination and blending often serves as a catalyst to the creative process. A truly creative community does  just as much listening as it does speaking or acting.

Throughout my experiences in college, as part of a collective, and in entrepreneurial endeavors, this concerted voice has been a driving force. I have seen firsthand the benefits of a unified creative community—repeatedly. I have seen the change that this confederation can bring to the individuals, businesses, and cultures it reaches. Creative community is as imperative to these stakeholders as fiscal responsibility or social consciousness. Ultimately, our willingness to accept that fact, both as a culture and as creative individuals, will determine our ability to make real progress.

If we can listen, share, and work hard, we will be the leaders of the future—together.

Adam Brouillette was a Fine Arts major at CCAD and earned his B.F.A. in 2002. Since graduating, he has been part of many group initiatives, as well as continuing to produce work independently as an artist. He currently serves as president of Couchfire Collective, co-chair of the Ohio Art League’s board of trustees, manager of Junctionview Studios, owner of littleINDUSTRIES, and executive director of Wonderland Columbus.

The Short North is one of the vibrant neighborhoods near downtown Columbus.

CCAD students know our city’s vibrant arts scene well—from the Short North Arts District with its well-established galleries, killer shopping, and first-class restaurants to the rich indie arts scene with popular events like Independents’ Day, successful organizations like Couchfire Collective, and an exciting entrepreneurial landscape. In fact, according to a January 18 article by Richard Florida in The Atlantic magazine, Columbus is beginning to experience a “brain gain,” as college grads increasingly choose to make the city their home—slowing the previous flow to Sunbelt cities such as Phoenix, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

CCAD contributes to the growing success of the city in many ways: most importantly by preparing our students to be creative leaders who vitalize both the global and local creative economies.

CCAD is also an active partner in community initiatives such as EasyColumbus.com, which bolsters the city’s competitive position globally. EasyColumbus has a single mission, to engage and ultimately retain college students from the 11 college campuses in the central Ohio region.

“This project…is an excellent example of the collaborative efforts and desires of the local community to make our four-year visitors feel connected and at home in Columbus,” said Dennison W. Griffith, CCAD president and co-chair of EasyColumbus. “We are pretty confident that once students get to know Columbus a little better, they’ll love us and have more reasons to start their future here.”

But CCAD is also having a concrete (and bricks and mortar) impact on the built environment of Columbus’s core. The success and growth of the college itself is leveraging investment in downtown and in the Discovery District neighborhood that is home to the campus. Building on recent additions to the CCAD campus and the expansion of the Columbus Museum of Art next door, the 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan proposes an expansive “Creative Campus” district around and through the CCAD campus with Gay Street as its core.

Vince Papsidero, planning administrator for the City of Columbus, emphasizes the area’s valuable potential to attract creative people—both as visitors and residents. The plan proposes open space, new streetscapes, mixed-use infill construction, and a new, shared parking garage to create an interconnected and active campus between CCAD, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Jefferson Center for Learning and the Arts, and Columbus State Community College. “The plan will enhance the experience of students, residents, and visitors to the area by creating a new cultural neighborhood that is interconnected and vibrant,” Papsidero said. “Ultimately the plan aims to improve downtown and solidify its place as the employment, governmental, institutional, entertainment, and commercial core of Central Ohio.”

People to Watch story from Alive's website

Adam Brouillette (CCAD 2002) was recently listed in Alive’s annual People to Watch list.

The weekly alternative paper carefully selects this list with help from reader nominations. This year, the eclectic group of 11 have something interesting in common. The paper has identified them as people that they think can build Columbus’s brand.

Brouillette is one of several in the group representing the creative class. Since leaving CCAD he has not only been actively engaged in the arts community but has helped lead several collaborative initiatives that are changing the culture of Columbus’ arts community and the landscape of the city, including Couchfire Collective and Junctionview Studios.

The project that Brouillette has his fingers in that is currently attracting attention is the rehab of the old Wonder Bread factory. Called the Wonderland project, the recently vacated urban landmark is being transformed to house art, music, performance, retail and office space.

Check out the full article in Alive to see what Brouillette has to say about Wonderland, Columbus arts, and his own take on getting things done.