Cultural creativity and dialogue

It is useful here to quote from the social philosopher Martin Buber’s work on ‘cultural creativity’, which addresses this thorny relationship between creativity and culture directly (albeit not in the context of a university):

There are two aspects of culture: creativity and tradition. On the one hand, all cultural life is based on personal creative production. Culture derives its vitality from the plethora of creativity, and when in any culture the flow of innovation ceases, its power is annulled, since that culture lacks any power if it does not have the power of innovation, the power of constant renewal: or self-renewal. But on the other hand, none of these productions succeeds in developing a social character; that is to say, does not become an integral part of that culture, unless it enters into the process of give and take; if it does not become material which can conveniently be passed on and be joined to all productions created throughout the generations to become something paradoxical: a form of generality.  There are two sides to culture: revolution and conservatism, i.e., initiative and routine existence. Each one alone has great historical value, but only the two together have cultural value. (Buber, 1962: 383-86, translated from the Hebrew)

As Buber goes on to observe, we should be particularly concerned about the possibility that the ‘state’ (for which we might also read any organisation or institution wielding power) might come to dominate the forces of social and cultural spontaneity.

Buber highlights the importance of ‘dialogue’. As Eisenstadt (1992: 8) observes: “The central characteristic of situations producing creativity is the existence of a dialogue, of communicative openness”. It is interesting here to make a connection with the literature on ‘social creativity’ (Wilson, 2010) and the university ‘in the age of supercomplexity’ (Barnett, 2000). These emphasise the importance of ‘developing communicative tolerance’ as a key step in the process of enabling ‘social creativity’ – defined in terms of “our relational consciousness towards others and with the ‘other’” (Wilson, 2010, p. 373).

Other key steps include a) enabling interdisciplinarity; b) supporting collective critical reflection; c) facilitating engagement; and d) applying alternative methods. These themes represent an important backdrop to the development of the research design for this project.

Student engagement event

On Thursday 3rd December, 33,000 Everyday Artists hosted a ‘student engagement’ event to introduce students to the project, get feedback on initial ideas and to encourage them to get involved in rolling out the project from January to March.

Anatomy Museum, Strand Campus

Jo and David ran the two overarching ideas of the ‘artwork’ and the ’31 Day Challenge’ by the students to hear feedback and so as to be able to work in any comments and suggestions for the final implementation starting in January.

Overall, students were really excited and enthusiastic about the project and keen to be involved. Creating a crowd-sourced digital artwork that challenged the posters of King’s famous alumni pictured on the front of the Strand and Waterloo campuses by celebrating everyday creativity really resonated with students, with one person exclaiming, ‘Yes, we are important too!’.

In group discussions, students came up with fun ideas to communicate the project to different groups. For example: speed-dating socials over lunch, a flash mob, captive screens in toilets, messages on everything from whiteboards to microwaves, ambassadors to recruit new people and virtual (or physical) galleries.

A reoccurring idea from students was was to harness as much social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and King’s media platforms (King’s app, website, student newspaper, KEATS) as possible to get the word out about the project. They said that if notifications came from the ‘top-down’ (i.e. official King’s email correspondence) then they would be likely to delete emails before even reading them. This is an issue that’s been highlighted in several meetings so finessing the communications strategy is a key challenge and aspect of the project overall.

The response from the students was extremely positive and the event created a buzz that we hope to hold on to and channel through to January, when the activities start. The fact that students were really engaged and receptive suggests that there is an appetite for embedding a culture of creativity, and importantly changing the culture of King’s, which the project will work towards achieving in its three month intervention period.

Group activity

Finalising what the interventions will be from Jan-March

As we come towards the end of the first phase of the 33,000 Everyday Artists project, Jo and David have been finalising what the ‘intervention’ or ‘experiment’ from January to March will look like.

Based on consultations with stakeholders across King’s (students, academics, deans, professional services staff, Knowledge Exchange Associates etc.), Jo and David have decided on two main activities that will structure the three month intervention period (leaving opportunities for potential changes/additions as necessary). The two main interventions will be a crowd-sourced digital artwork and a 31 day creative challenge.

In their conversations, Jo and David have noticed how some people struggle to think of themselves as creative. They want to highlight whether it’s writing and drawing, researching and dancing, thinking and questioning, inventing and playing, everyone has something they’re passionate about – something uniquely creative, original and worth valuing. The Spring term will then focus on celebrating, encouraging and bringing to life the 33,000 Everyday Artists that already comprise the culture at King’s.

From January – playing on the portraits of the great and the good at the front of buildings on the Strand and Waterloo campuses – the project will start to build an interactive digital artwork celebrating and showcasing all of the extraordinary individuals that make up King’s. Students, staff and faculty will be encouraged to share their passions, inspirations and hobbies to create a growing repository of everyday creativity.

From January to March creative activities will pop up across King’s inspiring everyone to do, think and share their creative endeavours.

Then in March the project will launch the 31 day creative challenge – a series of simple daily prompts designed for every one of the 33,000 Everyday Artists at King’s. The 31 day challenge invites every one across the college to explore, document, design, question, make up, compose, play and reflect as a part of their daily life.

Getting to know Strand Campus and its people: 45 minute creative challenge

King’s, Strand Campus 22nd September – Jo Hunter

Place 1: The Canteen

The first thing I noticed about the canteen was how quiet it was. There were so many people there but most of them were on their own, or in twos having hushed conversations. The atmosphere felt studious and still. I noticed a girl sketching and we started chatting. She didn’t go to King’s – she studied at Greenwich, she was waiting for a friend. She remarked at how she’d wished she’d studied harder because you could tell how clever people were here and what an atmosphere of study it was. But we both thought that there were also downsides to that atmosphere.. I wrote this poem in response.

Place 2: The seventh floor

Here I walked along a corridor of locked doors and was panicking that I wouldn’t find anyone to talk to. But then I turned the corner onto this beautiful view of London and a really friendly girl who had just started at Kings and was hugely enthusiastic about the project. She gave me her email. And it made things feel possible. So I sketched this.

Place 3: The Chapel

I heard some singing as I walked past the chapel and I recorded it. I noticed a girl hovering outside and so I talked to her. She was new to King’s and feeling ‘painfully new.’ It made me think about being outside of things. And of the impression King’s gives of this traditional Englishness. And how real that is.

Place 4: The Edmond J Safra Lecture Theatre

I snuck into a lecture! I saw one was just starting and took my chance! There were rows and rows of people and the atmosphere was bubbly and noisy. I asked someone what the lecture was and they said ‘numbers and functions.’ I liked that the atmosphere sounded so creative in such a linear world.

Place 5: Corridor on the way to The Bridge

What an Encounter! In a little corridor I was taking pictures struck by the lockedness and gridlike nature of so much of the inside of this grand building. And then I met Chong-Wen Hong.. who taught me so many secret and exciting places in King’s to find. I realised what hidden treasures there were for people willing to look. It made me feel excited about discovering.