This document discusses five trends shaping the future of work and creativity in Vermont: 1) the rise of independent workers and freelancers, 2) the growth of makerspaces and DIY communities, 3) new forms of crowdfunding supporting entrepreneurs, 4) the spread of coworking spaces, and 5) the development of a networked ecosystem to support creativity. Each trend is described in 1-2 sentences, outlining implications for supporting creativity and innovation in Vermont. The document concludes with discussion questions about advancing the creative economy at the local level.

1. Five Trends Shaping the Future of
Work and Creativity in Vermont
VCDA Winter Conference
December 11, 2013

2. “Between the Tigris of I-91 and the Euphrates of Rt 7”

3. The Office of the Creative Economy
exists to connect Vermont’s innovators
and entrepreneurs, measure and
promote a healthy creative ecosystem,
and mobilize resources across
Vermont’s creative sectors.

4. Film and New Media
Advertising and Marketing
Software and Game Development
Manufacturing Arts
Arts and Cultural Organizations
* Architecture, Publishing, Music

5. !
Pop Quiz

6. About how many jobs in Vermont are
in the creative sector?

7. 2,600 arts-related businesses in
Vermont create 8,000 jobs.

8. That does not include independent
workers and freelancers, another
roughly 2,300 workers.

9. How much was raised in Vermont through
Kickstarter in 2013?

10. $660k

11. $540k
$660k
$1m
Between what the Arts Council and
Vermont Community Foundation give

12. Finally, how many of you have participated
in one or more of the following...

14. Five filters to view the creative
economy

15. Independent workforce
The DIY makers
New forms of finance
The new workplace
A networked ecosystem

16. Independent
Workforce

17. The independent workforce is
composed of contractors,
freelancers, consultants, and
micropreneurs who choose selfemployment over stable, full-time
employment on a career path.

18. Source: MBO Partners 2013

19. Implications for what we measure,
the support mechanisms we create

20. DIY Makers

21. A makerspace is a communityoperated workspace where people
with common interests, often in
computers, technology, science,
digital art or electronic art, can
meet, socialize and or collaborate.

22. Source: ArtisansAsylum.com

23. Artisan’s Asylum
40,000 square foot warehouse
Around 250 monthly members
140 studios
45 pallet storage units
Over 80 shelf storage units available
for rent

24. Implications for innovation pathways,
product development, skills
development and transfer

25. Crowdfunding

26. Crowdfunding is a method by
which anyone can raise funds from
many individual donors by
leveraging the power of networks.

27. Global market of $300B in 2013
LendingClub: debt financing at $1B
Kickstarter: equity financing at $700M
Value of all SBA microloans <$100k was $138B

28. Source: SMB Blog

29. Implications for finance landscape -
charity, debt, and equity - and
business support

30. Coworking

31. Coworking is an answer to the question,
How can we help entrepreneurs and
creatives connect, grow their ventures,
and foster startup communities?

33. Benefits
Break isolation, foster networks
Establish presence, increase
productivity
Increase density, generate ideas and value

34. A movement
530 coworking spaces across the U.S.
25,000 coworking members
(Average is 41 members per coworking space)
7 spaces in Vermont
(Three in Burlington, others in Middlebury,
Brattleboro, Montpelier. New ones coming online)

35. “
Coworking has revitalized my one-woman
business. I feel more productive and far less
isolated. It's given me a work community-something that, as a freelancer, is not
naturally built in to my life.
”
* Local 64 member survey, November 2012

36. Implications for downtown
development, business mentoring and
support pathways, fostering density

37. Networked
Ecosystem

38. A layered ecosystem...
Growth support
Startup finance and support
Idea generation and concept development

40. Economic Growth
Incentive
Procurement Technical
Assistance

41. For discussion...

42. What does the creative economy look
like in communities where you work?

43. What opportunities are you seeing to
advance the creative economy in the
communities where you work?

44. What barriers do you see that hinder or
thwart your efforts to advance the
creative economy in communities where
you work?

45. Thank You
Lars Hasselblad Torres
802-917-1788
lars.torres@state.vt.us
@VermontOCE