Ambitious City: Showtime for Hamilton’s Music Strategy

· by Whitney Eames

Ambitious City is an annual chamber event that offers up fresh ideas on how to boost Hamilton’s reputation as a hotspot for talent, investment and business development.

It’s a public forum to challenge the status quo and move the needle on a progressive urban agenda for the 21st century.

Past Ambitious City events have unpacked themes ranging from growth planning and public transit to civic leadership and community engagement. We have heard innovative solutions to complex city-building challenges provided by influential thought leaders including Jennifer Keesmaat and Naheed Nenshi.

Last year, Carlo Scissura, CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, shared insights on the creation of a new economy using the power of gritty authenticity and street smart innovation.

This year’s Ambitious City will help accelerate the implementation of Hamilton’s long-simmering music strategy.

Vision, goals and strategy — the three fundamentals needed to position and promote Hamilton as a music city — are in place. And a chorus of people has stepped forward to champion our large and diverse music sector as an enabler of economic development and quality of life.

Now the hard work of implementation begins. Who should lead the way? What’s the best financial model? How do we measure success?

These and other questions will drive a lively conversation. Attendees will learn about global best practices in music cities, hear the specifics of a highly developed Hamilton Music Strategy, and discover what must happen to make this comprehensive blueprint a reality.

Graham Henderson, president and CEO of Music Canada and chair of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, will deliver a kickoff address that draws on his extensive international experience in the design and marketing of music cities. His evidence-based message and pragmatic recommendations have grabbed the attention of senior community and business leaders across Canada and beyond.

Alan Cross, broadcaster, writer and host of the “Ongoing History of New Music,” Canada’s longest running radio documentary, will serve as guest moderator. Our discussion panel, which will include a mix of local and regional contributors, is being assembled.

Now’s the time to pull together to increase the overall community impact of a dynamic sector that’s ripe for growth in a future-focused and ambitious Hamilton.

AMBITIOUS CITY
November 10, 2016, 7 pm to 9 pm
Lincoln Alexander Centre in Downtown Hamilton
$40pp | CLICK HERE to Register