ACDC 4 You – Exploring Creativity     2020-1-LT01-KA227-ADU-094724

Creativity is a vital skill for individuals in various professions, including adult educators, artists and cultural workers, as well as human resource professionals, who are the main target groups of Erasmus+ project ACDC4YOU” https://sih.lt/en/projects/international-projects/acdc-4-you-artistic-creativity-development-course-for-you

We are all born with this skill, but we lose it over time. In this article, I want to analyze this issue and present the intellectual products of the ACDC4YOU project that will help people in the above professions, and not only them, to recover or improve their creativity.

First of all I would like to present  research results, that illustrate main reasons,  why many people being born with innate creativity  lose it as they grow older:

• Education system: Traditional education systems often prioritize conformity and standardized testing over creativity and innovation. This can discourage experimentation and original thinking, leading to a decline in creativity over time.
• Cultural factors: In some cultures, conformity and obedience are highly valued over individual expression and creativity. This can create pressure to conform and discourage creative thinking and behavior.
• Fear of failure: As we get older, we often become more risk-averse and fearful of failure. This fear can stifle creativity, as we become less willing to take risks and try new things.
• Lack of time: As we become more busy with work and other responsibilities, we may have less time to devote to creative pursuits. This can limit opportunities for experimentation and growth.
• Negative feedback: Negative feedback or criticism can be discouraging and cause people to lose confidence in their creative abilities. This can lead to a decrease in creative output over time.
• Trauma or stress: Traumatic events or chronic stress can impair cognitive functioning and reduce creativity. This can be particularly true if the trauma or stress is ongoing and impacts daily life.

It's important to recognize these factors and work to counteract them by actively developing creativity and creating space for experimentation and growth.

So, after evaluation of the above-mentioned factors, we can already find out the importance of creativity for each of ACDC4YOU target group and define strategies and methods for its development and fostering.

For Adult Educators

Adult education involves providing learning opportunities to adults who are beyond the traditional school age. Adult learners come from diverse backgrounds, and their learning needs vary. Creativity is an essential skill for adult educators to have because it allows them to develop innovative and engaging teaching strategies that cater to the unique learning needs of their students. Creativity can also help adult educators to create a positive learning environment that fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

To foster creativity as an adult educator, one can adopt the following strategies:

• Embrace a growth mindset: A growth mindset enables you to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. It encourages you to take risks, experiment, and embrace failure as a means to learn.
• Incorporate creative techniques in teaching: Use activities such as brainstorming, mind mapping, and visual storytelling to engage adult learners and encourage them to think     creatively.
• Foster an open learning environment: Encourage students to express their ideas and perspectives freely, and provide constructive feedback that fosters creativity and innovation.

For Artists and cultural workers

Artists rely heavily on creativity to produce original and innovative works. It is the foundation of their profession and is essential to their success. Creativity allows artists to express themselves in unique ways, bring their ideas to life, and connect with their audience.

To foster creativity as an artist, one can adopt the following strategies:

• Develop a routine: Establish a regular routine that allows for uninterrupted creative time. This routine can be daily, weekly or monthly, depending on your schedule and creative process.
• Seek inspiration: Seek inspiration from a variety of sources, including nature, other artists, books, and music. Expose yourself to new experiences and ideas that can spark creativity.
• Experiment with new techniques and mediums: Try new techniques and mediums to challenge yourself and broaden your skills. This experimentation can help you find new ways to express your ideas and creativity.

For HR Professionals

Human resource professionals are responsible for recruiting, developing, and retaining talent in an organization. Creativity is an essential skill for HR professionals because it enables them to develop innovative strategies that attract and retain top talent. Creativity also allows HR professionals to develop new approaches to problem-solving and enhance the overall employee experience.

To foster creativity as an HR professional, one can adopt the following strategies:

• Encourage innovation: Encourage employees to share their ideas and perspectives on how to improve the organization. This feedback can be used to develop innovative solutions that enhance the overall employee experience.
• Foster a culture of creativity: Create an environment that fosters creativity by encouraging collaboration, experimentation, and risk-taking.
• Incorporate creativity in training and development: Use creative techniques to enhance training and development programs. This approach can make learning more engaging and effective.

In conclusion, as it was said before, creativity is a vital skill for adult educators, artists or human resource professionals. It allows individuals in these professions to develop innovative strategies, express themselves in unique ways, and enhance the overall employee experience. By adopting the strategies outlined above, individuals in these professions can foster and develop their creativity, enabling them to achieve success both professionally and personally.

Based on these findings and considering the statement of Irish playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw “Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself ‚, ACDC4YOU project partnership, which  main aim is to equip the target groups - adult educators, musicians and other cultural workers - as individuals the most vulnerable to economic shocks, such as those created by the COVID-19 crisis - with the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful facilitators of music-based creativity trainings for adults and at the same time gain creative confidence and develop ‘creativity literacy’ themselves, have created 4 intellectual products that can serve to develop creativity in daily activities, not only for representatives of the main project target groups, but also for any group of society after adaptation according to their needs.

Please find links to EN version of ACDC4YOU project products:

Collection of Best Practice Examples in Creativity Development using Musical Expression 

Acdc 4 you_collection of best practices  

Artistic Creativity Development Curriculum Acdc 4 you_curriculum_en  

Set of Creativity Labs Acdc 4 you_creativity labs_en

Creativity Workbook Acdc 4 you_creativity workbook_en

All the products developed are translated into all project partner languages – Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Spanish.

 

Daiva Malinauskiene , SIH Director, ACDC4YOU project coordinator, a board member of LAAE and LieDM associations