New creative centre could help revitalize downtown Oshawa

Oshawa, ON (June 21, 2012) – A new creative centre is taking shape in downtown Oshawa with the support of several community stakeholders, including Spark Centre, Creative Social and the City of Oshawa’s Downtown Economic Officer David Tuley. The creative centre will bring together Innovators and Artists in a flexible and dynamic space where the like-minded can collaborate, exchange ideas, expand networks, find an affordable office or studio, share amenities, teach a class or stage an event.

The new centre is currently unnamed. A naming competition is underway with a prize of $500 being offered to the winner. The winner and the new name will be publicly announced at the Creative Social event, Thursday, June 28th, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa.

“Entrepreneurship and creative art go hand-in-hand”, says Martin Croteau, Executive Director of Spark Centre. “That’s why the most entrepreneurial communities also have a vibrant creative art scene – they are actually two sides of the same coin.”

Next week’s Creative Social event will feature Skopworks, an innovative gaming studio and Spark Centre client, created by a group of former UOIT students. Spark Centre is partnered with a number of academic institutions including UOIT and Durham College to help bridge the gap between businesses, innovative R&D, faculty and students.

“We see great ideas every day, and many of them are from students who ultimately want to start their own business but need our help”. Spark Centre offers business coaching and mentorship, learning tools, connections to business and research networks, and help with access to investment.