I think Richard Florida is a border-line shame but I do like creative people. Hanging around Spokane as an adult these last 10 years I have noticed something is changing. It started with downtown getting fixed up, new shops, restaurants, nightlife etc and has blossomed into something more. Actual art and culture is creeping in through the cracks as actual 20-30 year-olds have stuck around (or come back) instead of bolting for Portland and Seattle right after graduation. The thing I think people are now getting is our culture is made for/by us. Unlike Richard Florida I don’t care about charts and graphs but I can report what I see on the ground.
1) Better quality art in local galleries – there may not necessarily be more of them but there does seem to be more interesting and alternative art in local galleries. One recent example: Thirty Year Itch
2) Seattle area tech companies with newish branches here: Ascentium, Sitecrafting, Spokane companies with new Seattle branches: Magnor Sanborn
3) Better local rags: Crunk Roost, Spokane Metro Magazine
4) Better music: butt rock is all but dead and talent abounds (just look around)
5) 2 National Addys this year: Seven2 got one for work with Nick Jr and we at Quisenberry got one for work with URM.
This is just my tech/design/art related view but I like what I see.
