You know that phase of creative bubbling that looks and often feels completely lacking in creativity and forward motion? I feel it mostly in my diaphragm, but it may be different for everybody. I’m currently a little stuck there–but I’m okay with it. I am doing a lot of reading and personal writing and sort of waiting for the “pop.” I am processing lots of ideas, opinions, emotions, and dreams as I search for the seeds of new projects. I personally tend to head straight to books on neural processing, psychology, human development, creative economy, and even poetry to deepen my appreciation for this uncomfortable phase.
I have watched “Changing the Paradigm,” an RSA animated infographic (included below), enough times in the last week and a half that I have begun to hear Ken Robinson’s voice in my head. A PhD and recognized leader in the development of education, creativity, and innovation, Sir Ken Robinson is a gifted speaker who illuminates the need for the arts in public education better than anyone I have seen. You are probably among the 200 million people worldwide who have stumbled upon his TED talks on schools and creativity and on personalized learning for the future. I am currently reading the new edition of his book on creativity and human capacity called Out of Our Minds. His voice is distinctive and persuasive (funny too), but above all, it is inspiring. When paired with the imaginative horsepower of the Royal Society for the Encouragement for the Arts’ smart animation, Robinson’s message is ever clearer and more captivating–even to friends of mine who had never given much thought to the arts in education.
Granted, we all know that finding space, time, and funding for arts education will continue to be a battle–arts ed has always been left at the bottom of the barrel, if included at all–but Robinson at least makes a very compelling case for changing the way we think about nurturing human talent and capacity. How can we take steps towards updating education at all levels for the needs of the 21st century? Will it be a grassroots movement of free-choice learning? Will it come when and if we make it out of the other side of the financial crisis (p.s. Did You Hear the One About the Bankers?) ? The answer is up to us. The first step to large-scale change is the initiation of an ideological shift. And with the power of TED and the general need for inspiration in tough times, I hope this shift towards a more thoughtful system of education continues to gain momentum and urgency in the years to come.
So we are inspired by a great mid-season Symposium in early February sponsored by Dance/NYC. Hopefully we all made new friends at the kick-off party at the Rubin’s K2 lounge, but now what? When thinking about the assignment of a book report in conjunction with the Symposium I thought it best to find a resource that can take great ideas and energy into a tangible reality. How many times has inspiration been squelched by lack of planning or even knowing how to plan?
David Allen’s Getting Things Done is a great book to help you take those lists and projects and turn them into actionable tasks and eventually a completed project. Continue reading →
.jpg "The national service organization for professional dance.")
