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Full description

This outcome is about how engagement in cultural activity stimulates the creativity, sparks the imagination or piques the curiosity of the participant (which includes all participants, from experienced artists to members of the public experiencing this creative activity for the first time). Creativity is defined here as the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new and worthwhile – the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing.

This is the most dynamic outcome, with the participant experiencing creative stimulus, which may result in desire to engage more with similar or different cultural experiences and/or inspiration to create new artworks, working either alone or with others. Desired endpoints are more creativity stimulated, leading to the potential of more new work created. Both are unlimited.

Theory underpinning this outcome

This outcome corresponds closely to UCLG’s concept of ‘creativity’ and Agenda 21’s culture and human rights theme in which artists are invited to ‘commit themselves with the city, improving coexistence and quality of life, increasing the creative and critical capacity of all citizens’ (UCLG, 2006). Cultural creativity is recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable development (UNESCO, 1998) and ‘a source of human progress’ (Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, 1998).

‘If ever there was a need to stimulate creative imagination and initiative on the part of individuals, communities and whole societies the time is now. The notion of creativity can no longer be restricted to the arts. It must be applied across the full spectrum of human problem-solving’ (World Commission on Culture and Development).

The importance of creativity for good quality of life is well established, for example, with it forming one of Rogers’ five characteristics of a fully functioning person (McLeod 2007b). Artistic creation is recognised as one of the ‘oldest, most available reservoirs of human inventiveness and self-fulfilment’ (de Beulelaer & O’Connor, 2017, p. 28). The creation of new and diverse artistic work and cultural experiences offers potential for exploration of community issues and aspirations (Pope & Doyle, 2006).

“Art is the only afterlife of which we have evidence – the transmission of human experience and thought” (author Shirley Hazzard).

Evidence that this outcome occurs

This section is currently in development. Updates will be posted here as they are completed.