Creativity for Good: Applying Creativity for Social Transformation

For almost two years now, we have been uplifting and seeking to better understand the work of young creatives who catalyze social change and those who are committed to cultivating their creativity. Throughout this process, the team at Creative Generation has done a lot of problem-posing and has conducted original research to try to answer many of these questions, too.

In 2019, we sought to understand how we spoke about arts and cultural education, specifically its impacts. This led us to put forward a new set of language, including key terminology describing the work of the “creative generation.” In 2020, we wanted to explore the “how” of arts and cultural education for social change. This led us to a number of research initiatives, reports, presentations, and curricula.

Today, we are focused on the “why?” Why are young people choosing to develop their creativity - and more, why are they applying it for the social good. Throughout the multitude of crises communities faced in the year 2020, we constantly saw young creatives at the forefront of problem solving, activism, and community resilience. Some may call it “Artivism,” while others think of it as a natural outcome of their creative practice. 

Regardless, I specifically want to explore how are young creatives applying their creativity for the social good?

The Means or the End?

All around the world, there exist passionate advocates for arts and cultural education, whose main purpose is to advocate for increased access to artistic learning for young people in their cities or nations. Often times, this comes with set definitions of curriculum, a specific cannon of knowledge, or pre-identified outcomes from this work. 

This causes many problems, however. Numerous studies show that these strict definitions, implemented a spart of the advocacy for arts and cultural education lead to greater disenfranchisement, growing gulfs in cultural representation, and ultimately, more problematic pedagogical circumstances which hinder learning.  

I would argue that there is a great issue which underpins these challenges entirely. We – as a field of practitioners in arts/culture, education/youth development, and social change – should not be advocating for greater access to arts education as the final ends, but rather think of it as the means. This would entail us defining what the actual ends would be. What is our real end goal of cultivating creativity in young people?

The reason we should support arts and cultural education as a right for every young person is so that they can develop their creativity to change the world.

Why do we stop to celebrate when a new group of youth take a music class or hang their first artwork on a wall? Shouldn’t we be celebrating their new creative capabilities developed through that experience, rather than the simple experience itself? Personally, I note the numerous examples of young creatives who have changed the world as a result of their music, theatre, art, design, craft, or movement. And personally, I could care less if they perfectly executed their pirouette, recited every line perfectly, or hit every note in their score.

We owe it to ourselves, our students, and the generations of future creatives to establish creative learning communities which look beyond the short-term outputs and aim for the long-term impacts. This process can be viewed as applied creativity.

Applied Creativity

The term “applied creativity” has been used extensively (and copywritten, trademarked, and otherwise exploited for commercial business interests). However, it should note that it traces its roots back to discipline-specific studies, like applied drama/theatre and design thinking. 

In this blog, I do not wish to go into arguing the semantics of definition, so suffice it to say that applied creativity can be understood as: the process of applying creative capabilities to envision local solutions to complex global challenges.

In our foundational research, we proposed a set of four creative capabilities, which could be used as a new vernacular for articulating the outcomes of arts and cultural education (rather than the outputs, like art pieces, theatre performances, dance pieces, and the like.) They are:

  • Creative Thinking: the ability to identify challenges, and employ creativity to envision solutions;

  • Cultural Consciousness: the process of understanding of one’s own cultural identity and a developing a respect for, and often participation within, other diverse cultures;

  • Connectivity: a commitment to remaining engaged with peer or social groups regardless of time or location, through virtual and interpersonal means; and

  • Concern for Community: acting as a servant leader, regardless of means, to strengthen the communities to which one belongs.

Through our studies, we have documented this practice in a number of different circumstances: young people using dance to impact housing policy, music to combat racism, visual art to impact justice reform, theatre to challenge water and environmental issues, or performance to create safe and healthy spaces. 

No matter the circumstance, these young creatives are engaging in acts of social transformation. This term – which is rooted in the global south and conceptually originates in indigenous cultures – is defined as the process of change in institutionalized relationships, norms, values, and hierarchies over time. It is the manner by which individuals, communities, and societies changes due to active efforts of reform from within.

We would argue that when creativity is applied, we should call it Creative Social Transformation. When creative social transformation occurs, our communities thrive and our world is more just.  

Think of it like this:

These concepts are not new, however. There are leading organizations all around the world who have been doing this work in their own contexts (and sharing quite a bit globally!). The Centre for Arts and Social Transformation at the University of Auckland in Aotearoa/New Zealand researches how the arts have the potential to make a more socially just and equitable world through improving the quality of life of all. Crear Vale La Pena in Buenos Aires Argentina is an art and social transformation organization working to transform life with creativity as a tool. There are so many others as well - please share them with us at info@creative-generation.org.

Creativity for Good

This brings me back to our question for year: Why?

Last month, we announced the campaign for 2021: Creativity for Good. This campaign aims to share the stories, experiences, and projects led by young creatives applying their creativity for the social good. As part of the Campaign for a Creative Generation this unifying campaign will bring together individuals and organizations around the work who share a dedication to inspiring, connecting, and amplifying the work of young creatives and those dedicated to their creative development. 

Building on the success of our previous campaigns - #KeepMakingArt, International Arts Education Week, and Arts & Cultural Education is a Fundamental, Civil, and Human Right – the Creativity for Good campaign will provide monthly actions that individuals and organizations may take to build a movement to change the narrative, inspire action, and connect young creatives who apply their creativity for the social good. Past campaigns have reached millions of people all around the globe - this campaign will do the same.

Additionally, we have partnered with Untitled by TLNT to provide young creatives (and their educators) with socially-focused opportunities and educator resources to motivate and engage young creatives around the world to apply their creativity for social good. The Untitled platform provides students and schools the opportunity to work directly on live creative briefs, set by global brand partners. The platform includes learning and curriculum-related materials, inspiration, workshops and mentoring opportunities. 

You are invited to participate in the campaign and encouraged to sign up here. Throughout 2020, we will send monthly actions for you or your organization to participate in the campaign. It never costs money, and don’t worry, we never sell your information. Join us!