The Artful HumanCreating purpose and meaning

Tania de Jong AM, Founder and Chair, Creativity Australiaand Creative Universe

IBM Global CEO Study (2010) of over 1500 corporate heads & public sector leaders across 60 nations and 33 industries:

McKinsey Global Survey (August 2010) showed that 84% of executives see innovation as extremely or very important for growth strategy post the GFC and in an increasingly complex global environment.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS• uses logic• detail oriented• facts rule• words and language• present and past• math and science• can comprehend• knowing• acknowledges• order/pattern perception• knows object name• reality based• forms strategies• practical• safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS• uses feeling• "big picture" oriented• imagination rules• symbols and images• present and future• philosophy & religion• can "get it" (i.e. meaning)• believes• appreciates• spatial perception• knows object function• fantasy based• presents possibilities• impetuous• risk taking

Creativity is as important as literacy and numeracy

“Creativity has become the most universally endangered species in the Twenty First Century. Never has the need for creativity been so compelling and never has genuine creativity been in such short supply.”

Ryan Mathews and Watts Wacker

creativity

Artful Humans“A profound change is taking place in the organisations that are seriously concerned about the future of business and society as they are realising that rational man, is giving way to artful human.”

Lotte Darso, in her book ‘Artful Creation’

The current climate

Creativity AustraliaOur Vision

We utilise creative programs to enhance wellbeing, social inclusion, innovation, employability and productivity for

individuals, organisations and communities.

Our MissionWe create sustainable social and economic outcomes

through recognising and unlocking creative potential in partnership with the workforce and community.

Detail from Patent application for ‘Flirt’ (19 Sept 1929), the first foldable umbrella, invented by Slawa Horowitz. (Tania’s grandmother)

Questions for future leaders1. What could exist that does not exist now?

2. What could be happening that is not happening now?3. How can we learn how to acknowledge each unique

voice and unlock our human potential?

Creativity is the strategic tool of the 21st Century and will help us solve community, organisational and global

challenges.

With One VoiceWhat?

To create corporate and community choirs around the country in partnership with business, community and charity groups, government

Who?Employees of all ages, disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and communities incl.

migrants, unemployed people and those with disabilities, multi-faiths, all ages…

Why?To build social capital, wellbeing and sense of belonging, employment pathways, foster

diversity, greater harmony and understanding between people. Our society is fragmented and we are losing our connection with other people and the ability to

communicate and express ourselves.

Where?Melbourne, Geelong, Dandenong, Royal Children’s Hospital, Maribyrnong, Sunshine,

Orygen Youth Health, corporations….coming soon to Sydney, Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, Chadstone, St Kilda and Frankston

With One BIG Voice!

Melbourne Sings Choir• Creativity Australia's first Community Choir, Melbourne

Sings, begun at Sofitel Melbourne on March 3rd, 2009. • This innovative program integrates residents of the

Collingwood and Fitzroy housing estates and other marginalised people with employees from city and local businesses.

• Members range in age from 13 to 85 years old and represent 15 nations.

• The aim of this choir is not only to create a more cohesive society, but also to connect migrants with potential employment opportunities and networks that would usually be out of their reach.

• We have already created a number of skills and training opportunities, new networks and jobs through the program.

Melbourne Sings Tuesdays 5.15pm - 6.30pm, Sofitel Melbourne, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne

Geelong Sings Mondays 5.30pm - 6.45pm, Waterfront Christian Church, 35 Corio Street, Geelong

Dandenong Sings Wednesdays 5.15pm - 6.30pm, Paddy O'Donoghue Centre, 45 Buckley Street, Noble Park

Footscray Sings Thursdays 5.30pm - 6.45pm, The Church' 10A Hyde Street, Footscray (at the rear of the Town Hall)

Sunshine Sings Thursdays 6.00pm - 7.15pm, Djerriwarrh Services, 20 Hertford Road, Sunshine

Royal Children’s Sings Mondays 5.15 – 6.30pm (for RCH community only), Ella Latham Room, Royal Childrens Hospital

Orygen Youth Health Choir Wednesdays 1.00 - 2.00pm (for OYH staf & clients only), Youthscope Group Room, Orygen Youth Health, Parkville

COMING SOON: St Kilda, Ashburton, Broadmeadows, Frankston and Heidelberg.

What specific programs is CA offering to organisations?

1. Keynote speeches, forums and debates on creative leadership and innovation.

2. The Inspiring Minds/Brainstorm Series: Team Building, Leadership, Training Programs - for conferences, retreats, board meetings, break-out sessions – incl. Killer Innovation, Finding Your Voice, Corporate Storyteller, Battle of Choirs etc

3. Customised programs to engender a climate of wellbeing and innovation amongst leaders or special operating units.

4. With One Voice Corporate Choirs and Battle of the Choirs - 12 month programs with quarterly performance outcomes and wellbeing research

5. Limited places are available in mixed community/business choirs. The cost per employee includes a donation towards the cost of sponsoring the participation of one disadvantaged person.

CA is working with organisations to provide the following creative thinking and leadership programs tailored to individual workplaces and corporate cultures:

Key points

• LEVERAGE THE POWER OF “NO” We are all far more creative than we believe. Remove self-limiting beliefs of yourself..and others. Never give up!

• ASK WHY? And also ask why not? Appreciate the power of “Yes” and “I can…”. Look for possibility. What if…?

• CREATE FOR VALUE Unlocking creativity leads to ideas that create value in individuals, teams and organisations. Focus on the benefits/value of your idea, not its newness

• DIVERSITY leads to innovation. Listen to all the voices around you and share your ideas across barriers of siloes, age, gender and cultural diversity.

• INNOVATION CULTURE Find ways to develop a culture of creativity and innovation across your teams and organisation. Be known as problem solvers.

Key points• ENQUIRING MINDS All it takes is nurturing enquiring minds -

who knows what may be possible! What could exist that does not exist now?

• GROUP PROCESS Understand that organisational innovation is not an individual thing. It is a group thing and requires the participation of numerous different people, all of whom contribute to the overall innovation process

• ALIGN WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE - You need to be around people who make you feel like YOU!

• COURAGE Be prepared to take a risk. Step outside your comfort zone. Don’t follow tradition or the group. Be a creative leader. And support others who are.

• Listening + Creativity + Courage + Passion = Your power to be a change maker, bring hope and leave a legacy

unplayed music

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?And, if I am only for myself, what am I?

And, if not now, when?.”Rabbi Hillel

“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching,

and live like it’s heaven on Earth.”Mark Twain

www.creativityaustralia.org.auwww.creativeuniverse.com.au

www.ci2010.com.auwww.TaniadeJong.com.au

www.MusicTheatreAustralia.com.auwww.Pot-Pourri.com.auwww.songroom.org.au

The Artful HumanBuilding wellbeing through

diversity, creativity and community

Tania de Jong AM, Founder and Chair, Creativity Australiaand Creative Universe

creativity in educationso why don't we get the best out of people?

“I would teach children music, physics and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in patterns of music

and the arts are the keys to learning.”Plato

"We are educating people out of their creativity”Sir Ken Robinson

“All children are born artists. The problem is to remain artists until we grow up.”

Pablo Picasso

the song room:engaging young people through creativityThe Song Room's vision is that all Australian

children have the opportunity to participate in music and the arts to enhance their education,

personal development and community involvement.

3 out of 4 Australian government primary schools do not have access to music programs.

The Song Room has reached over 250,000 students nationally.