As part of my journey as an academic researcher, I recently studied a Harvard Business Review article about creativity and private companies. One of the many as the topic is very much of today. Companies recognize creativity as an essential key characteristic they would like to find in employees and find that creative companies outperform others in strategic growth. However, fostering and cultivating creativity and measuring its tangible results is perceived difficult.
Working with external partners is usually a useful tool for companies to get new insight and ideas. Consultants and outsourced experts can bring a breath a fresh air and bring out the best in people. But what if there is a greater need for understanding the basic essence of creativity and how to build a basis for it to grow freely.
The business of the arts is all about creativity and arts professionals navigate a field of incredible amount of creativity, by so many different people, all of them unique, from different backgrounds – all highly skilled experts in their own work. The role of an arts management professional, in my opinion, is to bring form and structure to the surrounding creativity – always respecting it, never killing it. Bring ideas to life with the needed resources, conveying it to the surrounding world – to politicians, to business people, to ordinary audience members. It is a fascinating task as it’s all about people with their very profound beliefs, ideas and emotions brought to life – on both sides.
My own academic research focuses on the relation between the arts and the business sector. I want to speak and write about my findings as the journey unfolds and exchange ideas. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Creativity is capital, culture is capital. There is a sea of opportunities to explore.