What are creative skills?
Creative skills are the approaches that enable an individual to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, or the ability to use their imagination to generate new ideas. This could be through writing, drawing, brainstorming, dialogue, reframing, fact-gathering or imaginative scenario planning.
And creative arts?
The creative arts imply a form of expression not bound by language. This can include (but is not limited to) painting, sculpture, literature, music and theatre.
What we offer
We offer programmes to build young people’s creative skills through the arts. This includes:
Painting, poetry and storytelling
Filmmaking (including acting, scriptwriting, camera operation and directing)
Music production (including singing and rapping)
Why is this important?
In a systematic literature review of 210 pieces of educational research by Davies, Jindal-Snape, Collier, Digby, Hay, & Howe (2013), creative learning environments were found to have a positive impact on learners’ academic achievement.
The literature review found that:
There was an increase in confidence and resilience, enhanced motivation and engagement;
There was an improvement in the development of emotional social and thinking skills;
There was improved school attendance.
It also found several key characteristics of environmental factors that are most effective in the promotion of creative skills in children and young people. This includes:
The availability of resources/materials,
The physical environment,
The pedagogical environment,
The outdoor environment,
Environments beyond the school,
Play-based learning,
The relationship between teachers and learners,
Effective and flexible use of time.
References:
Davies, D., Jindal-Snape, D., Collier, C., Digby, R., Hay, P., & Howe, A. (2013). Creative Learning Environments in Education – A Systematic Literature Review. Thinking and Creative Skills, 8, 80-91.
