Opening Eyes: Fostering Creativity in our region

The Themed Entertainment Association, along with Adirondack Studios and the Workforce Development Institute, present the Inaugural Capital Region Creative Economy SATE Academy Day, featuring keynote speaker Robert Walter, president and executive director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, Friday, Feb. 24 at Proctors.

The conference, Opening Eyes: Fostering Creativity in Our Region, will also feature talks and presentations with Dennis Encarnation, co-founder/partner, Wise Labs; Norma Morales Perez, director of design, Edens; Clara Rice, director of communications, Jack Rouse Associates; Brian Sands, vice-president/principal economics, AECOM; Deanna Siller, principal, Gensler Architects; and John Tobin, vice president of operations, EYP Architecture & Engineering.

TEA is an international non-profit association representing the world’s leading creators, developers, designers and producers of compelling places and experiences. SATE—an acronym for Story + Architecture + Technology = Experience—cultivates a collaborative culture of production, in which designers, technologists, producers, developers and operators work closely together from the early stages of a project, in a team structure often more horizontal than hierarchical.

The gathering at Proctors recognizes the scope and power of the Capital Region’s creative economy and will offer attendees the opportunity to: engage with area creative industry leaders; discover how regional entrepreneurs are evolving the national and global relevance of their organizations; discuss creative potential with worldwide creative industry experts; examine why it may be more important to keep creative talents in the region; to gain perspective about the importance of the Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy; and to mingle with friends, colleagues, freelancers and engaged young professionals.

“The Capital Region is a major player in the creative economy,” says Proctors CEO Philip Morris, “and bringing a SATE Academy Day to Schenectady is an important step. It says, once again, that we are operating at a national level and it offers a unique opportunity for speakers and attendees to share information, talent and ideas. It’s not just a slogan, the conference really will open eyes.”

Keynote speaker Walter, a former Broadway playwright and director, co-founded the Joseph Campbell Foundation in 1990, with the American mythologist’s widow, Jean Erdman, in order “to preserve, protect, and perpetuate Campbell’s pioneering work.” He serves on the Advisory Board of Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture and serves on the Board of Mentors of Immanence: The Journal of Applied Mythology, Legend and Folklore.

The Inaugural Capital Region Creative Economy SATE Academy Day is preceded by a 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 mixer, featuring an informal dinner and conversation with speakers, at the GE Theatre at Proctors. The event proper begins 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24 at the GE Theatre at Proctors; continues with a 3 p.m. site visit to New York Independent System Operator in Rensselaer; and concludes with a 6 p.m. reception in Schenectady.

The Inaugural Capital Region Creative Economy SATE Academy Day at Proctors is sponsored by Adirondack Studios, Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy, Behan Communications, EYP Architecture & Engineering, Gramercy Communications, Mills Entertainment, Proctors, Vicarious Visions and Workforce Development Institute.