EDUCATION
FIND YOUR INNER CREATIVITY AT ICE Dates The short courses start with A short history of creativity, Who can attend Anyone can attend, whatever their qualifications (or lack of them), and ICE prides itself on creating an encouraging atmosphere for all its students, whatever their background. There are over 250 high-quality, part-time and short courses throughout the year, which include University of Cambridge qualifications. ICE is characterised by friendly groups of committed students against the backdrop of the resources of one of the best universities in the world. Sample content 1: Creativity down the ages The early notion is of ‘creation’ as something coming only from God; fast- forward to the Enlightenment to creativity as something done by a few ‘geniuses’; and then to the modern democratic concept, whereby anyone can be creative. Sample content 2: ‘The throne of agony’ concept This theory, developed by Sally Hogshead, explains the key to any creative thinking process. The first stage of creative thinking is usually positive, with lots of ideas coming forth, followed by a stage of doubt and self-criticism. This is followed by the ‘slump’ or ‘throne of agony’. However, a second wind can be triggered if a new idea is introduced from left field – the odder the better – which can have the curious effect of sparking new ideas, often building on some of the earlier ones. 13 to 15 December. Visit ice.cam.ac.uk for further information about courses, plus a new diploma in Creativity in 2020.
As E M Forster puts it, creativity impels us to ‘leap before you look’. You still have to use your intelligence, but you needn’t rationalise every action before you commit to it. As I say, this takes trust – in oneself and one’s colleagues – but also in giving oneself ‘permission to fail’. Not every failure is a disaster, and we are most creative when our backs are against the wall. These courses at ICE are aimed at anyone who wants to understand and contribute to the rapidly changing world around them. They are suitable for people from all walks of life and all backgrounds: from those in the creative industries all the way through to those working in more process- driven jobs, such as technology or scientific research. The one thing that is certain is we are all creative, and we all have untapped potential.
to painting – that of creating through ‘abstinence’, ie not trying to paint, but rather letting the painting disclose itself. Novelists can also apply the same approach by standing back from the fictional characters they have created and let them develop of their own accord. Equally, a company director overseeing a new phase in their business might adapt the Pollock approach by not imposing objectives or strategies aimed at mitigating risk, because these same objectives might also delimit creativity. An alternative ‘risk strategy’ would be to embolden staff by building trust and by fostering an agile and responsive organisation. We need to see this as an opportunity to grow as human beings"
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ISSUE 03
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