Creative Generation believes that youth create change.
We are a values-forward, global collective that collaborates with young creatives and those who cultivate their creativity to take local actions towards global changes in pursuit of a more just world.
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As both a learning and capacity building organization, we employ our capabilities as artists, educators, administrators, researchers, storytellers, and activists to co-create projects that build capacity within individuals and organizations and support field-wide learning - get started by clicking an action below.
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Our Programs
The Campaign for a Creative Generation is dedicated to empowering young creatives and their communities, by providing a hub for stories, resources, and opportunities.
The Institute for Creative Social Transformation produces new and honors existing forms of knowledge and ways of knowing, while dismantling systemic barriers to sharing and learning.
The Academy for Creative Leadership works to expand definitions of and reimagine pathways to leadership, by creating diverse and intergenerational learning communities.
The Incubator for Creative Impact activates projects by contributing time and expertise toward building capacity for sustainable change.
The Foundation for a Creative Generation redistributes resources to enable creative people and projects to pursue a more just world.
The Latest on the Blog
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Leadership Valerie HD Killebrew explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, in an interview with YELF participant Remy Fernandez O’Brien.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Engagement Bridget Woodbury explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by looking at the qualities of trust in relationships.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Manager of Community Knowledge André Solomon explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by on the work done by our fabulous summer residents.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Guest Writer Hannah Pietra, MS, LCAT, MT-BC, CLC explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by reflecting on self doubt in the arts and entertainment industry, and suggestions for working through it.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Manager of Operations Ali Pavlich explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by reflecting on the different layers of trust and how they interact.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Knowledge Dr. Camea Davis explores this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by reflecting on what it means to build trust with herself.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Communications Katie Rainey introduces this quarter’s topic, Building Trust, by reflecting on one very impactful first class from years past.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Managing Director Jeff M. Poulin explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, by reflecting on every blog our collective members worked on during this quarter and his own experience with a teacher who fostered his own way of knowing.
The Collective that makes up Creative Generation consists of artists, educators, makers, and thinkers from around the world. In this series, we’ve decided to highlight inspiring work that’s happening in the cities in which our collective members live. In this blog, Director of Knowledge Camea Davis reflects on the thriving city of Atlanta where she currently lives.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Engagement Bridget Woodbury explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, by reflecting on valuing ways of learning.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Communications Katie (M.K.) Rainey explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, by reflecting on her newest adventure: law school.
The Collective that makes up Creative Generation consists of artists, educators, makers, and thinkers from around the world. In this series, we’ve decided to highlight inspiring work that’s happening in the cities in which our collective members live. In this blog, Director of Leadership Valerie HD Killebrew reflects on this time of year when college students move into her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts.
In the Summer and Fall of 2022, Creative Generation collaborated with the Appell Center for Performing Arts (ACPA) to produce an actionable plan elevating community knowledge and inform a set of tools to create a community hub for arts and cultural education in York County, PA. ACPA sought to engage with the community effectively, specifically convening residents throughout the county to learn about the ways they engage civically, creatively, and interpersonally with the arts, arts education, and the Appell Center and its theaters.
In the Summer and Fall of 2022, Creative Generation collaborated with the Appell Center for Performing Arts (ACPA) to produce an actionable plan elevating community knowledge and inform a set of tools to create a community hub for arts and cultural education in York County, PA. ACPA sought to engage with the community effectively, specifically convening residents throughout the county to learn about the ways they engage civically, creatively, and interpersonally with the arts, arts education, and the Appell Center and its theaters.
This project, “The Starving Artist: An Investigation into Multihyphenate Artistry” by Summer Resident Danny Maggs interrogates the concept of a “starving artist” and “true artistry” through literature review and interviews of multihyphenate artists. Through this capstone project, Danny creates and exhibits a profile for each of the artists interviewed, along with an artistic journey mapping of their artistry, and an analysis of the project’s main inquiries.
This project, “The Starving Artist: An Investigation into Multihyphenate Artistry” by Summer Resident Danny Maggs interrogates the concept of a “starving artist” and “true artistry” through literature review and interviews of multihyphenate artists. Through this capstone project, Danny creates and exhibits a profile for each of the artists interviewed, along with an artistic journey mapping of their artistry, and an analysis of the project’s main inquiries.
This project, “The Starving Artist: An Investigation into Multihyphenate Artistry” by Summer Resident Danny Maggs interrogates the concept of a “starving artist” and “true artistry” through literature review and interviews of multihyphenate artists. Through this capstone project, Danny creates and exhibits a profile for each of the artists interviewed, along with an artistic journey mapping of their artistry, and an analysis of the project’s main inquiries.
This project, “The Starving Artist: An Investigation into Multihyphenate Artistry” by Summer Resident Danny Maggs interrogates the concept of a “starving artist” and “true artistry” through literature review and interviews of multihyphenate artists. Through this capstone project, Danny creates and exhibits a profile for each of the artists interviewed, along with an artistic journey mapping of their artistry, and an analysis of the project’s main inquiries.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Manager of Leadership Programs Caryn Cooper explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, by reflecting on her previous teachers: both the good and the bad.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Manager of Knowledge André Solomon writes about his journey to self-discovery after winning an award for his music.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Manager of Operations Ali Pavlich explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, through the lens of learning a new skill.
“As practitioners, many of us naturally identify patterns and themes; others process information in terms of design. Moving forward with a process, like this one, to uplift, aggregate, analyze, and present information opens up numerous pathways for practitioners of all types and learners of all styles.”
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Knowledge Camea Davis explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, through her time spent with her grandmother and learning from her elders.
From May - August 2023, the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and Creative Generation collaborated to conduct an organizational reflection process to document and aggregate the strong practices in virtual arts learning uncovered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this project, the two organizations produced a reflection to: aggregate learnings from members of SEADAE; synthesize ideas to guide members and respective stakeholders when designing virtual arts learning opportunities, considering technology and virtual integration in the standards review process, and developing standards-based assessments; and identify future inquiries.
In this blog, Danny Maggs provides a summary of their Overview of Documented Knowledge for the capstone project "The Starving Artist." The blog explore's Danny's personal experience in writing the overview, and looks into some of the findings.
This blog explores Destiny King's overview of her culturally responsive approach to interviewing Black, licensed music educators for her capstone, "Amplifying the Voices of Black Pedagogy." Destiny shares insights on how to begin transforming your own interview processes from community-led research practice, particularly with marginalized communities, and how to build an interview guide from the Wallace Foundation's "In-depth Interviews" model.
The Collective that makes up Creative Generation consists of artists, educators, makers, and thinkers from around the world. In this series, we’ve decided to highlight inspiring work that’s happening in the cities in which our collective members live. In this blog, Summer Resident Destiny King writes about the Free Little Art Gallery in Greensboro, North Carolina that challenges the financial and intellectual accessibility, elitism, and lack of representation of art galleries.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Communications Associate Madison Pivonka explores this quarter’s topic, Valuing Ways of Knowing, through her time as both a student and a teacher in the dance studio.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Director of Communications Katie (M.K.) Rainey introduces this quarter’s topic: Valuing Ways of Knowing.
Each year, Creative Generation conducts a campaign with a specific focus and this year’s campaign is “Intergenerational Collaboration,” explored through quarterly topics. In this blog, Managing Director Jeff M. Poulin rounds out this quarter’s topic, Redefining Eldership, and ties together all the other blogs in this series by our collective members.
The Latest News
The Creative Equity Fund housed at the Seattle Foundation and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their new collaboration to foster a collaborative learning environment among funders and grantees to reassess and refine the goals of the Creative Equity Fund to ensure it aligns with the evolving landscape, needs, and opportunities within the field.
Together, Creative Generation and the International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) are pleased to welcome the 2023-24 cohort of the Young & Emerging Leaders Forum. Find out more about our new cohort!
Creative Generation is pleased to announce its new project, “Amplifying the Voices of Black Pedagogy” to explore the arts education ecosystem of North Carolina, specifically from the perspectives of intergenerational licensed Black music educators, from varying years of experience, in the public school system. Through this project and work, Summer Resident Destiny King conducts the research and presents findings through blog posts that highlight each of the music educators interviewed, an art piece to represent the language of what is deemed as success in each educator’s classroom, and a digital framework to synthesize findings from the dialogue sessions.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce the capstone project of Resident Danny Maggs. This project, “The Starving Artist: An Investigation into Multihyphenate Artistry” interrogates the concept of a “starving artist” and “true artistry” through literature review and interviews of multihyphenate artists. Through this capstone project, Danny will create and exhibit a profile for each of the artists interviewed, along with an artistic journey mapping of their artistry, and an analysis of the project’s main inquiries.
Please help us welcome our 2023 Summer Residents! Through the Summer Residency Program, Creative Generation will work with individuals from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the sectors in which the organization works.
The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their new collaboration to conduct an organizational reflection process to document and aggregate the strong practices in virtual arts learning uncovered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this project, the two organizations will produce a reflection to aggregate learnings from members of SEADAE; synthesize ideas to guide members and respective stakeholders when designing virtual arts learning opportunities, considering technology and virtual integration in the standards review process, and developing standards-based assessments; and identify future inquiries.
In keeping with Creative Generation’s values, we want to celebrate and uplift the artistic/personal lives of our collective members. Several of them have received good news lately, so we want to share that work with our community.
OCU:DC, the chapter of Oklahoma City University’s Alumni Association, and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their collaboration to support a spring break professional learning program, the Arts Management Exchange.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce its new Fellowship Program to recognize and collaborate with elder, senior, and veteran practitioners in our field who are seeking to share their knowledge, ways of knowing, and lived experiences with future generations.
Over the last 9 months, Creative Generation worked with a passionate group of arts school leaders who are committed to driving change in their schools and communities towards these ideals. The ASN Arts & Cultural Education Leadership certificate program is the first of its kind in the field. Creative Generation is proud to work in collaboration with ASN on this initiative.
OKC Charter School Engages in Collaboration to Enhance Arts-Integrated Learning Oklahoma City, OK: Harding Fine Arts Academy (Academy), an arts-integrated charter high school, has engaged in a collaboration with Creative Generation in order to enhance existing arts-integrated curriculum for the benefit of the students and faculty.
The team at Creative Generation is pleased to welcome new members to the Collective and celebrate other members of the Collective in new roles - Caryn Cooper, Camea Davis, Heleya de Barros, Erica Joos, Thomas Kurtz, Ali Pavlich, Katie Rainey, and Maddie Pivonka!
The Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Institute and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their new collaboration to design, pilot and implement the School for ABC Leaders. Through this project and work, the two organizations will craft a professional development and continuous education program to cultivate new and existing skill sets within the school leaders towards affecting sustainable change in their communities.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce the Capstone Project of our Resident for Research Analysis and Documentation, Audrey Maxner. This project, “Recognizing My Wholeness through Art-Making,” is a heuristic, arts-based self-study exploring the questions: “How can I begin to liberate myself,” and “How can I begin to liberate my art?” Through this qualitative study, Audrey engages with her disabled identity through the seven processes of heuristic inquiry.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce the Capstone Project of our Resident for Learning and Community Knowledge, Emma Lamberti. This project, “Arts Resources for Social Justice Arts Education (SJAE),” will provide public, free resources and lesson plans centered at the intersection of arts education and social justice.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce the Capstone Project of our Resident for Communications and Community Engagement, Maddie Pivonka. Through this project, “Arts Practices to Improve our Daily Wellbeing,” will explore the perspectives of emerging practitioners at the intersection of wellbeing and the arts including dance, music, and visual arts.
Arts Schools Network (ASN) and Creative Generation are pleased to continue collaborating on the production of ASN’s annual conference being hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from October 25-28, 2022. Previously, ASN and Creative Generation have collaborated on the production of the 2020 virtual conference, the 2021 annual conference in Chicago, and numerous other professional development events, including the pilot year of the Arts & Cultural Education Leadership Certificate program. This continued collaboration stems from both organizations’ commitment to ongoing professional learning for arts school leaders and the need for rapid innovation in addressing the changing professional circumstances for these leaders.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has selected the collaborative team from Creative Generation and WolfBrown to design and lead an exploratory phase of work for “Excellence in the Arts,” a national scale arts integration initiative. The project will address how the arts can foster learning, creativity and engagement as well as academic, social, and emotional wellbeing for students in a post-pandemic education landscape.
The William Penn Foundation, in partnership with WolfBrown and Creative Generation is pleased to announce their new collaboration to produce a professional development series titled, “Reinventing Strong Practices: Equitable Access to Creative Opportunity.”
Together, Creative Generation and the International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) are pleased to welcome the 2022-2023 cohort of the Young & Emerging Leaders Forum.
The Young & Emerging Leaders Forum (YELF) is a 9-month program designed to establish a peer-to-peer network of young and emerging professionals within the fields of culture, education, and social change. Jointly hosted by Creative Generation and ITAC, YELF builds from a 2020-21 pilot program. The program will recognize young practitioners from across the fields and be responsive to the needs of the cohort, fostering a collaborative learning environment based in critical reflection intended to interrogate, mutually share and learn, and radically reimagaine future possibilities of one’s work.
Appell Center for the Performing Arts and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their new collaboration to produce an actionable plan elevating community knowledge and inform a set of tools to create a community hub for arts and cultural education in York County, PA.
We’re thrilled to welcome our 2022 Summer Residents, who started this week!
Creative Generation encourages systemic change by working within and disrupting the current structures of the arts/cultural, education, and social change sectors. Recognizing the negative impacts of traditional internship structures, the organization seeks to mentor new professionals with the necessary tools, training, and resources that will aid them in changing the landscape for the future.
In 2022, Creative Generation will host numerous podcasts to bring listeners around the globe to learn how arts, culture, and creativity — especially as applied by young people — can change the world, one community at a time. The below four podcasts share timely news and dive deep into the work of young creatives who apply their creativity to catalyze social change and those who are committed to cultivating their creativity. Listeners are invited to learn and laugh while being inspired and envisioning new futures together.
The team at Creative Generation are pleased to welcome new members to their Collective and celebrate other members of the Collective in new roles!
The International Arts Education & Disability Justice Exchange, which will commence in March 2022, provides space for peer-to-peer networking and knowledge sharing among practitioners advancing both arts education and disability justice around the world. The exchange is connected with and supported by BIAESN and seeks to move the field of practice forward through regular meetings, documentation and publication of practices, and virtual spaces to exchange ideas, resources, and opportunities.
The Innovation Collaborative and Creative Generation are pleased to announce their new collaboration to build and engage science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education audiences. Through this project and work, the two organizations will strengthen the communications infrastructure of the Innovation Collaborative to advance STEAM education in their communities.
Together, Creative Generation and the International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) are pleased to announce their continued collaboration to share knowledge and increase opportunities for digital learning.
The Tennessee Art Education Association presented Creative Generation with the 2022 Friend of TAEA Award.
TAEA presented the award in a virtual ceremony, saying, “we thank you for your partnership through the Social Justice Art Education Institute, where you helped us to build the collective capacity of our educators through equity, diversity, and inclusion. We thank you for your leadership.”
Creative Generation is pleased to announce the Capstone Project of our former Communications & Operations Resident, Parker Stephen Nolan. The project, titled Network Theory: How Can Its Application Cultivate the Conditions to Support Young Creatives?, will produce a final report based on findings from five interviews with network leaders. The report will include vocabulary for utilizing Network Theory, abstract models from each interview, observations of the trends that enable greater success in existing networks, and considerations on how to better support young creatives through Network Theory.
Creative Generation is pleased to announce a new project to examine and reflect on what occurs during the leadership transition between executive directors of arts & cultural education organizations and their alumni successors. Through this project, a research report describing cases of this leadership transition as well as a proposal for a guide for future organization leaders undergoing a similar leadership change will be generated.
Get Involved
If you are interested in our work, share our values, or would like to contribute to the efforts, please be in touch.