Everyday Creativity
We want to build a country where each of us are given the chance to flourish through creativity. Learn more about Everyday Creativity and how you and your organisation can support this…
Intro
Introduction
Everyone can be creative, and each of us has the potential to develop our creativity further. Being creative helps us to think, experiment, and better understand the world.
Arts Council England commissioned Audience Agency and the Centre for Cultural Value to create a resource for you and your organisation if you are thinking about doing more to support “everyday creativity” in your communities.
Get started
Get started
Understand Everyday Creativity – what it is/isn’t
The values and barriers
Case studies and stories of Everyday Creatives
Next steps for you and your organisation
Breaking it down
We’ve broken the learnings down for you to discover…
Questions to ask yourself about everyday creativity, how to evaluate, plan and resource it.
The practical steps to encouraging everyday creativity in your community.
The four themes to meeting everyday creative's needs, inspired by the stories we heard.
Stories
Take a look at a selection of personal stories that link to the four themes we identified - Validation, Connections, Practical Support and Navigation.
Ray
I write poems. This gives me a creative outlet that I really need and feel
I’m lacking. I’ve recently started to be more disciplined about writing as I
really enjoy it but need to make time for it.
I also love reading poetry and have attended a few poetry readings this
year. I read poems for family and friends and sometimes connect with
other poets. I also collect records and have an Instagram account for
sharing photos and information on my record collection. I connect with
some people on Instagram through love of music.
I also like photography and have a camera with detachable lenses that I
enjoy experimenting with using the manual settings. There is something
satisfying about getting a good shot not using a phone or automatic
settings. All of these activities are organised by myself, although I have
attended a short writing group in the past and would like to do more of
this or start my own writing group for myself and others.
Amanda
Originally from New Zealand, I’m a mother in my 50s working on a freelance basis from home. Arts and culture have always been important to me and form some of my earliest happy memories. My parents encouraged us to paint, draw, dance, take photos, put on plays and make our Christmas presents. My mother taught me to sew as a young child, which led to me making my own clothes and eventually running a bespoke tie business. It was so satisfying seeing people wearing my designs with pride. I’ve always enjoyed visiting galleries, museums, festivals and other arts events. They’re an incredible source of inspiration. Recently, the Platinum Jubilee Street Party was a catalyst for me and my daughter (and the rest of our street) to create outfits, decorations, games and a giant commemorative ‘picture’ frame. There are many more classes and creative learning opportunities available now online, but it doesn’t replace the benefit of meeting people in person. Now that I have more free time, I want to develop my ceramics skills and take art classes.