All through the 90s, as a writer covering every event in the Bay Area that focused on technology, entertainment, and all things creative, I thought I’d seen it all. Then I came up for my first Portland Creative Conference in 1998 and discovered that these folks had created something so special, it was way ahead of the pack! And they’d been doing it since 1990.
The Creative Conference, which ended its initial run in 2001, was a full immersion into the spirit of creativity where extraordinarily talented people came to share personal insights into the creative process. There were multimedians, producers, directors, writers, composers, artists, actors, advertising legends, and more, all gathering for an electrifying and interactive ideas exchange. They dazzled us, they amused us, and they amazed us, but more importantly, when they revealed their failures as well as their successes, they convinced us that anything is possible.
One of the most remarkable things about the conference was the congenial and intimate atmosphere, palpable right there in the middle of the Newmark Theater’s capacity-crowd. The event producers were responsible for creating that ambiance, and even though I hear it had something to do with magic, they aren’t admitting to anything.
When the Creative Conference ended in 2001, it left behind twelve-years of spectacular content. If you didn’t have the rare pleasure of being there, here are some recaps written from 1998 – 2001:
A re-launch of the Creative Conference is underway and we’re inviting you to follow the action as things develop. Keep checking this blog or subscribe to one of our update methods.
Stay tuned and pass it on!
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