Our aim is for everyone in Brabant to be able to make use of and develop her or his creativity to the full. This is why partners involved in education, culture, care, the business community and government signed the Law to Preserve Creativity: a manifesto made up of seven articles focused on the future. This law is taking effect in 2019. The signatories – known as custodians of the law – are organising a range of activities aimed at helping put the law into practice. During the Creativity World Forum (CWF) on 21, 22 and 23 October, a number of these custodians will present their visions of the role of creativity in relation to (social) issues.
Law to Preserve Creativity
Why a Law to Preserve Creativity?
Children are curious and creative by nature. Useful qualities all through life: at home, at school and at work. Creativity prompts us to enquire, explore, think freely, experiment and create. Our region needs all of these qualities. Increasingly the challenges we face, both in our own lives and in society, demand new answers. A fresh, uninhibited view. As well as innovative, sustainable solutions. Creativity is the raw material of the society of the future.
Accepting the assignment as a collective
We, partners from all sectors in the Province of Noord-Brabant, recognise the importance of creativity.
AS A SIGNATORY OF LAW TO PRESERVE CREATIVITY:
1. I PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY, AND I BUILD TOWARDS A HEALTHY CLIMATE FOR CREATIVE GROWTH.
Personal creativity deserves collective attention. This is why I will work to support this important task. I will do so on the basis of my professional position and expertise. Where possible, I will work as a co-creator. I will strive to inspire, share and exchange as much as I possibly can. As well as striving towards sustainability by setting (policy) objectives for the longer term.
2. I CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES RESEARCHING, EXPERIMENTING, AND REFLECTING.
People excel when their curiosity is stimulated and challenged. I realise that this goes hand-in-hand with sufficient time for calm reflection, scope for playfulness and the freedom to make mistakes. After all, we all learn by trial and error. I will therefore work towards an environment and (educational and entrepreneurial) climate that supports the exploration and discovery of new paths, on which steps can be retraced if results make this necessary.
3. I BELIEVE IN THE VARIETY OF TALENTS OF PEOPLE AND I PROMOTE DIVERSITY.
Every person is unique. And every person has talent. Living and working together in a diverse community enriches everyone – I am firmly convinced of this. I am open to unconventional thinkers with new ideas. They show us the other side of the coin and dare take a different approach. This is why I stimulate diversity and take people’s personal talents as my starting point.
4. I FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON THE PERSONAL CREATIVE GROWTH OF PUPILS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON ALL EDUCATIONAL LEVELS.
Society is changing rapidly, and these changes are bringing new opportunities, raising issues and throwing up challenges. We have to ensure that the new generation is prepared for these. On the basis of knowledge and expertise, but also through the development of our ability to fantasise, use our imaginations and experiment. In short: creativity. I realise that we have to build towards education that meets the requirements of the future. This demands a change in and an enrichment of the thinking and actions of teachers, students and policymakers. More than ever, they will have to draw on their own strengths and creative intelligence. This brings great opportunities, such as renewed value for those with practical or vocational training. I support the necessity for claiming a space in which to investigate, test and improve the future of education.
5. I TAKE THE CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE OF THE PEOPLE IN MY ORGANISATION SERIOUSLY.
It can seem like setting objectives and achieving results are in direct opposition to a creative approach. But nothing could be further from the truth – in fact, they are complimentary. And I realise this. We are accustomed at work to embrace certainties and to try to avoid uncertainty. At all costs. I dare turn this around. I dare to start to create space for creation and trying things out, so we don’t have to fix problems afterwards. Designers and artists teach us that we should not blind ourselves by staring at problem analyses, but that we can better start by collecting solutions. By letting our values be our guide in the realisation of our goals. By co-creating instead of controlling. I therefore appreciate creative human capital and encourage the development of this.
6. I REALISE THAT PEOPLE FLOURISH IF THEY EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY AND THAT THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR WELL-BEING.
Creativity can help express our feelings in different ways when words fall short. Emotions find expression, thoughts can flow. Even if s/he is dependent on care, a patient is still first and foremost a human being. I realise that creative strength is important to people in a vulnerable position. The language of creation brings us closer to ourselves and to one another. This offers comfort and hope, heals and motivates us all.
7. I GIVE THE PLAYFUL PERSON PLENTY OF SPACE.
Art and culture are a free space where we can wander without restriction. No obstacles, no ifs, buts and maybes. Here, we can voice our opinion and test our boundaries, incubate ideas and break out of patterns. Artists, in all shapes and sizes, make something out of nothing. It is this mind-set of imagination and design that I wish to express. Because everyone is a maker who can rely on her/his creative spirit. Sometimes as a master, sometimes as an apprentice, and often as a mentor. Through play, we become wise.
