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As we start our celebrations for our first birthday at THE DAILY HAIKU central to our community is Everyday Creativity. I am passionate about creativity. It makes a difference to my life on a personal level and is part of my wellbeing. For me it isn’t an abstract force but an essential one. But I am very aware that not everyone feels this or can access or value creativity in their lives. Also creativity can be sidelined, available to some and not others and something we experience and understand only through the arts.

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Voluntary Arts addressed ‘The Growth in Interest in Everyday Creativity’ in their regular #CreativeNetwork session as the organisation embraces its own 30th Anniversary celebrations. This inspiring discussion was framed by The The Warwick Commission’s 2015 final report, Enriching Britain: Culture, Creativity and Growth.  Overriding themes revolved around: How are we valuing, supporting and nurturing creativity? Is everyday creativity becoming fashionable?  How are we tackling mental health concerns in delivering creative activities?

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There is always more that can be done to ensure creativity is central to any education programme and recognised as a skill to be nurtured within all subjects. Also people need to be made to feel more confident in their creativity. But I am excited by the fact that creativity continues to be a valued force in itself with the added evidence around its wellbeing benefits. What I hope is that Everyday Creativity is for Everybody.

How important is Everyday Creativity to you?

What does Everyday Creativity mean to you?

Links: 

Get Creative: https://www.getcreativeuk.com / https://www.bbc.co.uk/getcreative

Cultural Value Project https://ahrc.ukri.org/research/fundedthemesandprogrammes/culturalvalueproject/

The Warwick Commission Enriching Britain: Culture, Creativity and Growth https://warwick.ac.uk/research/warwickcommission/futureculture/finalreport/

Voluntary Arts https://www.voluntaryarts.org

Big Conversation Results 2020 from Voluntary Arts  demonstrating the resilience of everyday creativity in difficult times https://www.voluntaryarts.org/News/big-conversation-2020-results

‘Common Ground: Rewilding the Garden’ which examines how creative activity is supported in areas of socio-economic deprivation across the UK and Republic of Ireland: https://www.voluntaryarts.org/News/commonground

King’s College London’s Towards Cultural Democracy report  https://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/-/projects/towards-cultural-democracy

Understanding Everyday Participation: http://www.everydayparticipation.org/

Fun Palaces: https://funpalaces.co.uk/

Science Ceilidh: https://www.scienceceilidh.com/

Aunty Social: http://www.auntysocial.co.uk/

Culture Wellbeing Scotland: https://www.facebook.com/groups/culturewellbeingscotland/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/culturewellbeingscotland/

Centre for Cultural Value: https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/

The most recent outputs on arts engagement from the UK Gov’s Taking Part survey is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/taking-part-201920-arts

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing – ‘Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing’: https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/

Voluntary Arts is working with UCL and other partners on this research project looking at the effects of participation in cultural activities and other activities during the pandemic: https://communitycovid.wordpress.com/