West Orange businesses celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Week

WEST ORANGE — In the digital age, techies and entrepreneurs are among the throngs who are almost constantly seeking the next big thing.

Since its foundation in 2001, a campaign has encouraged people to create and innovate to make the world a better place.

That campaign is known as World Creativity and Innovation Week, which began as a simple conversation in Canada that expert Marci Segal initiated and is continuing from Wednesday, April 15, to Tuesday, April 21, this year.

That conversation has spread through various means, from social media to in-person events in more than 50 countries around the world, as well as West Orange County. Here, the Florida Film Academy, based in downtown Winter Garden, has strived to follow the mantra of the week in all that its staff and students do, Florida Film Academy Director of Operations Stefanie Esquijarosa said.

“Our team decided to lead a campaign which bridges Florida with the world through one of our partners, The RSA,” Esquijarosa said.

The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce has a mission to enrich society through ideas and action, according to its website, TheRSA.org, which fits right in with World Creativity and Innovation Week’s mantra, as well.

“Do good, do something different, inspire new thinking and new action, help people feel their potential to make a positive difference” is that mantra, according to wciw.org, the official website of World Creativity and Innovation Week.

Other partners that are trying to help Florida Film Academy to spread this idea and foster creativity and innovation this week include: Florida Hospital Winter Garden, Orlando Science Center, Winter Garden Village and the West Orange Times & Observer.

“Our 2015 partners have a passion for creativity and innovation and want to unite to help encourage our community to answer the question: What is creativity, and how can even a small change impact my life and those around me?” Esquijarosa said.

Around the hashtag #WCIW, social-media users can follow daily updates and get looks at creative challenges they are encouraged to interact with through public comments, both on a worldwide level and here in West Orange County through the pages of each of the partners that highlight some of their daily experiences, Esquijarosa said.

In West Orange County, there will be a series of micro events open to all ages.

To start the week, Florida Film Academy hosted its “Make Up for the Movies Workshop” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 15, primarily for ages 7 to 18. Students learned beginner makeup techniques and created different characters using movie makeup, such as zombies, animals, superheroes and princesses.

On April 16, the Orlando Science Center is hosting a “Musical Fiesta” at 10:30 a.m. for children younger than 8, where they can learn to play and play to learn, as well as “Messy Afternoons” at 1:30 p.m., where children can enjoy a messy activity in Kids-Town, such as playing with homemade play dough and exploring states of matter.

At 1:30 p.m. April 17, the Orlando Science Center will host wall painting, also for children younger than 8, where children can use Tempura paint to paint the walls of KidsTown. 

Also on that day, Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves will host its free Art Walk by the Clock Tower event from 5-8 p.m., where guests can walk by artists, get dinner and shop.

The Orlando Science Center will host other events throughout the weekend and April 20, before Florida Film Academy hosts three free one-hour classes April 21 to close the week: Ani-Motion and Stop Motion beginning at 4:30 p.m., Photography and Animation from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and an acting workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Stefanie Esquijarosa at (407) 654-8400 or [email protected].

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].

MICRO EVENTS

Makeup for the Movies Workshop

WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15

WHERE: Florida Film Academy, 270 W. Plant St., Winter Garden

DETAILS: Students learn beginner makeup techniques and create different characters using movie makeup. Some examples of characters include zombies, animals, superheroes and princesses. Suitable for ages 7 to 18.

WEBSITE: Visit FLFilmAcademy.com to book a space.

Musical Fiesta and Messy Afternoons

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. (Musical Fiesta) and 1:30 p.m. (Messy Afternoons) Thursday, April 16

WHERE: Orlando Science Center,  777 E. Princeton St., Orlando

DETAILS: Learn to play and play to learn at Musical Fiesta. Then enjoy a messy activity in KidsTown during Messy Afternoons.

WEBSITE: osc.org

Art Walk at Winter Garden Village

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 17

WHERE: Clock tower at Winter Garden Village, 3251 Daniels Road, Winter Garden

DETAILS: This free event makes for a lovely night out. Stroll by artists, go out for a meal and shop at the mall.

Wall Painting

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 17

WHERE: Orlando Science Center,  777 E. Princeton St., Orlando

DETAILS: This is one wall you can actually paint on. KidsTown invites our younger guests to get creative with Tempura paint (washable with soap and water). Suitable for ages 7 and younger with accompanying adult.

WEBSITE: osc.org

Free Classes

WHEN: Tuesday, April 21. Classes take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. (ani-motion and stop motion), 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (photography and animation) and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (acting workshop).

WHERE: Florida Film Academy, 270 W. Plant St., Winter Garden

DETAILS: Stop by for an hour (or two) and experience some of Florida Film Academy’s classes for free. Appropriate for ages 7 to 18.

WEBSITE: Contact [email protected] to RSVP. Space is limited.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow the Florida Film Academy, Florida Hospital Winter Garden, Orlando Science Center, Winter Garden Village and the West Orange Times & Observer on Twitter and Facebook for daily challenges to inspire your own creativity.

You also can learn more about the event and participate in a variety of challenges by searching the hashtags #powertocreate and #WCIW.