Summit: per17


Length: 38:20


Cities have always been the engines of growth but as the development of creative zones such as technology corridors, knowledge hubs and ideas districts increasingly dominate the thinking of planners.

In this panel we consider the role of art and culture in the development of creative cities and communities? In 'megacities' cities such as LA, New York and London it is increasingly recognised that a broad mix of creative professionals, artists, designers, cultural institutions, scientists, academics, technologists and entrepreneurs are driving the development of these leading creative capitals. This session explores the ingredients that make the leading creative cities tick and looks at what is needed in terms of developing appropriate environments, networks and infrastructure. What can regional or smaller scale urban areas learn from, adapt or replicate? He examines how the cultural sector can better interface with other creative clusters such as the growing tech scene. The dynamism, scale and diversity of leading world cities make them hubs for cultural and creative activity. However, is the growth of a creative city largely organic or can we engineer it through tools such as policy and investment? What are the planning implications in a sphere where we are increasingly looking to balance top down approaches with more organic bottom up models and also building in fluidity and flexibility where we continually prototype ideas and concepts? How can the arts influence and shape urban development projects? How do we think about a more holistic approach to place-making when thinking about the infrastructure of cities?

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This talk is presented by

Michael Rodrigues - NSW inaugural 24 Hour economy Commissioner

Mike believes in the inspirational power of cities and spends a good amount of time encouraging anyone in his orbit to get out of the house, to know their city and to have more fun.

While working as a lawyer in the Middle East, he spotted an opportunity to launch global lifestyle brand Time Out in Sydney in 2007 to achieve these aims. In 15 years at the helm of Time Out Australia he has grew the brand across print, digital, event and social channels, which now reaches 1,000,000 Australians monthly. He also co-founded the Time Out Bar Awards and the Time Out Food Awards. Time Out’s contribution to our cities was recently recognised in 2020 when Time Out was awarded the Mumbrella Publish Awards Publishing Company of the Year, and Mike himself was awarded Publish Leader of the Year.

Since 2017 and prompted by the challenges facing Sydney's night time economy, Mike has focussed his efforts on aligning and empowering industry to actively engage in the political process in order to effect change. This saw him take a leading role in launching an independent bars association for Sydney in May 2018, followed by the launch of a Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in November 2018 of which he was the inaugural Chair. The NTIA was at the forefront of the development of the NSW Government strategy for a 24-Hour Economy, and in February Mike was announced as the State of NSW’s first 24 Hour Economy Commissioner, a role that commenced formally on 29 March 2021.

Mike is also co-host of leading hospitality podcast Back of House, a board member of UNSW Art & Design’s advisory council and a board member of Torrens University Hospitality advisory council.

Andrew Kalish - Director of Cultural Development, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership & Co-Author, Culture Forward (USA)

Andrew joined the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in 2014 as its first Director of Cultural Development.  

Tasked with realizing the long planned Brooklyn Cultural District and thinking more broadly about developing a cultural identity for the area, Andrew’s role is to position Downtown Brooklyn as a world class cultural destination while utilizing the area’s deeply rooted cultural groups as a lever for economic development.  He is a co-author of Culture Forward a groundbreaking plan to leverage market forces and build multi-faceted coalitions to secure and enhance the area’s cultural future. 

Prior to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Andrew served as the Director of Strategy and Business Development at Lincoln Center where he focused on evolving Lincoln Center’s economic model.  Much of his time was devoted to forming strategic partnerships with corporations and non-profits alike and optimizing the 50 year-old centers various business units.  Through this role, Andrew was responsible for several innovative partnerships including developing omni-channel retail partnerships, attracting , and positioning Lincoln Center as a luxury good to secure both media and product partnerships.  Andrew also oversaw the operations of Lincoln Center’s parking garage, the build out and subsequent operation of its destination restaurant, Lincoln and worked closely with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to insure its residency at Lincoln Center was a success. 

Before Lincoln Center, Andrew worked at Edelman, the world’s largest Public Relations and Communications firm, and Rubenstein, one of New York City’s most prolific communications shops.  He has worked with a range of clients in a variety of industries including The McGraw-Hill Companies, ITT Tishman Speyer, the Tribeca Film Festival and Paramount Films.  

In his spare time Andrew enjoys hiking, yoga, the beach and soccer (he is a recovering baseball player). Andrew received his BA in Political Science from Muhlenberg College and will receive his MBA from NYU Stern in the fall.

Marina Guo - Founder & President, Huashan Multiversity; Rotating Chair, China Innovation Service Alliance for Culture & Technology (China)

Dr. Marina Guo is a cultural entrepreneur, academic and strategist based in Shanghai China. She is the founder & President of Huashan Multiversity which is a national initiative on cultural leadership and talent development for cultural professionals and executives. Meanwhile, Marina serves as the Rotating Chair for China Innovation Service Alliance for Culture & Technology. She is Supervisor for Doctor of Business Administration program at Shanghai Jiaotong University-oec, and guest faculty at Berlin School of Creative Leadership.

Marina is the author of Creative Transformation (China Economic Press 2011) studying the potential of the creative economy in China, and the translator of How Creativity is Changing China (Wuwei Li, Bloomsbury 2011). She also contributed to a number of research reports eg. World Cities Culture Report 2012, World Cities Cultural Finance Report 2015, China Creative Industries Report, Shanghai Cultural Industry Report etc. Marina was recognized as a future leader by the Australian government when she received the Australian Endeavour Award. She won the most competitive Creative Leaders Award at China Creative Industries Award in 2011. Marina holds Ph.D. in Economics, Master of Arts and bachelor in International Business. She was a visiting scholar at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and is sitting on the Board of Director, American Institute of Performing Arts. She was the former Head of Arts Management at Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Marina demonstrated entrepreneurship and leadership in cultural planning, arts management, business innovation and talent development. By working across industry-academia sectors, Dr. Guo advised a range of clients on the development of creative industries, cultural management, operational strategy, talent development program, mentoring and coaching to public and private sectors.

Adrian Fini - Director, Fini Group

Adrian Fini is Director of FJM Property Pty Ltd and Fini Group Pty Ltd, private property and investment groups.

He has been involved in the Perth property industry for over 30 years.

Adrian is a current Board member of the University of Western Australia Business School Board and their New Century Campaign, the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), and he is also Chair of the Art Gallery of WA Foundation and was awarded an OAM for his contributions to the arts in 2014.

He was awarded West Australian of the Year and Western Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.