A SWOT analysis is a method for gathering data on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats on a topic. For the purpose of the community conversation, the language is changed to strengths, challenges, opportunities, and barriers. Strengths and challenges fall under internal attributes of the creative economy while barriers and opportunities represent the external attributes that influence the creative economy.

The discussion question is separated into four parts:

1. What are the strengths?

2. What are the challenges?

3. What are the barriers?

4. What are the opportunities?

Participants should be given a couple of minutes to brainstorm individually before reflecting with their group or table. Groups write thoughts on sticky notes and paste in the corresponding area. Use the exemplars from Day 1 to help participants to think of ideas. Also, be open to lived experiences from participants as well. Re-engage as a large group to discuss and interpret results.

Materials needed:

• handout with the questions

• pencil/pen for participants

• large piece of paper/whiteboard to record answers

• markers

The World Cafe is a method for gathering collaborative information. Participants move around to different tables after a round of 10-15 minutes of dialogue. Each round poses a question for participants to discuss and share knowledge they have learned from previous rounds.

For this activity, tables are divided into four sections: economic, social, environment, and other. Provide a large sheet of paper titled with the section at each table. With 10 minutes in each section, participants move around to discuss and brainstorm data indicators for each section. After everyone has gone through each section, the facilitator should take the large sheets of paper and post in where everyone can see to discuss results.

Materials needed:

• question prompts written on a large sheet of paper at each table

• sticky notes for participants to write on

• pencil/pen for participants

• markers