A Thought On Creative Collaborators

As with any story there are things that are well planed and thought of, even believed in, other things happened by chance (if such a thing exists).

Here is a brief version of the story on the birth of Creative Collaborators:

One day, not to long ago, a web page was about to expire:

- I am not going to continue with this web page “Andalucía Naturally” I don't live there anymore, but it will be a waste of ciber-space and opportunity to let it just fade away.

- Yes, I know what you mean. Worry not, something will come to mind.

A few days latter a well know Spring Art festival was happening. It is a fantastic festival, but it can't host everybody.

- It is a shame that so much local talent is not as visible as it could be. If there was something we could do to offer and outlet to all these creative energies and art....

- How about using the web page. I mean transform it into something different.
- There is a though. Lets think about it......

Both had similar outlook on life. The economical crisis, the political changes, and all those things that are becoming the natural landscape of our life that also offer opportunities for thought and questioning.

To them, the old system was reaping by the seams. The old ways had to change. They both believe that things should and needed to be made differently to what is crumbling all around us. The collective before the individual, inclusiveness instead of exclusiveness, cooperation instead of competition....

With these ideas in mind, the web page was changed to host a new project, a new idea. A call to the creative collective to join creative energies and find ways of collaborating with one another. A style that required little organisation, supervision, meetings, paper work.... A way of doing things relaying on peoples ability to be responsible, innovative, participative, to share instead of being a passive being. The idea took shape under this philosophy and frame of mind, it is the core of all of what was going to be done.

Soon the couple decided to start pulling mind like people into the project. A third and a fourth were call in. The idea was presented and a search for a name began, 10 minutes later Creative Collaborators was a web page and had the first draft of what the Home Page would say.

Among the group of four chores were taken care of according to ability and experience- One became in charge of developing the web page, keeping it up to date, the follow up of e-mails and other chores.

Another took over some of the managerial issues. The third had great energy for promotion and innovation. Networking. The fourth presented itself as the first project to be develop under the new idea for her poetry was to be read at the Wicker man!

During that period the possibility of looking for grants was discuss. One of the members had lots of experience and could open doors for the new project. It was tempting and interesting. Yet after some thought the idea of grants was discarded. It would be getting into the system that shows signs of crumbling, it is getting back to the “old ways”- Furthermore, there are many more needs and aid should be allocated with responsibility. Let the money go for bigger needs and let CC evolve on it own energy, it is our responsibility not someone else’s to make it work and grow. Let's believe in people social consciousness, generosity, creativity.... in members that will make it happen. That is our way: personal responsibility, collective effort.

Months down the line an opportunity appeared by generous "chance": CC could have a site, a small site, to start a shop and gallery. The opportunity was siege by the couple and next day the news was out to the rest of the members.

The shop/gallery is to be an arm, an extension of the CC vision and philosophy. It has to be run within the same frame of mind. Not everything has been easy, a lot of people have put in a lot of time and effort while keeping silent and productive. Some might not be aware of what they do, but because of them, things are happening. 

Thank you.

PS It is interesting to follow the link of the Cooperative Convention and ideas presented there. They are a good alternative to other business practices.