2013 New Zealand Creativity Forum

THE CREATIVE EDGE FORUM

Taranaki New Zealand

April 2013

 

Here is my ppt presentation from my 90 minute session on Saturday

“TURN ON THE SWITCH TO CREATIVE THINKING”

2013 NZ turn on the switch 1 of 2

2013 NZ turn on the switch 2 of 2

 

WHY CREATIVITY?

The creative process is the most successful process for accomplishment in history. In today’s world creativity is fundamentally important for our personal, social, economic and cultural well-being. The most important developments in civilization have come about through the creative process. Without creativity there would be no progress.

INTERNATIONAL CREATIVITY FORUM TARANAKI APRIL 2013

AT THE CREATIVE EDGE imagination . creativity . innovation

“The challenges we currently face are without precedent. More people live on

this planet now than at any other time in history. The world’s population has

doubled in the past 30 years. We’re facing an increasing strain on the world’s

natural resources. Technology is advancing at a headlong rate of speed. It’s

transforming how people work, think, and connect. It’s transforming our

cultural values. If you look at the resulting strains on our political and financial

institutions, on health care, on education, there really isn’t a time in history

where you could look back and say, “Well, of course, this is the same thing all

over again.” It isn’t. This is really new, and we’re going to need every ounce of

ingenuity, imagination, and creativity to confront these problems.”

 

Sir Ken RobinsonTHE IDEA:

For the last several years I have been invited to speak at international creativity gatherings and at each one I am asked when New Zealand will host something similar. New Zealand is regarded as a creative destination. People will come.

 

WHO IS THE FORUM FOR?

This is always a difficult question to answer so I will use my international experience and list some of the people who I have met – engineers, CEO’s and senior managers, scientists, artists, sports people, school principals and teachers, performers, business people, students, academics, architects, designers, medical professionals – in fact, anyone who can benefit from more creativity in their personal or work life – and I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t!!

The Creative Edge Forum will be a three-day gathering for personal, professional, and organisational creativity — a feast of 120 minute [some longer] – concurrent workshop sessions presented by some of the best creativity leaders in New Zealand and world-wide. The forum will expose participants to a wide range of perspectives on the research and practice of imagination, creativity and innovation. And on top of the scheduled programme, there will evening salons, dialog sessions, music, dancing, and just plain fun.

WHY TARANAKI?

Creativity happens at the edge. New Zealand is on the edge of the world. Taranaki is on the edge of New Zealand. Seems like a perfect place to explore creativity. Creativity and its sidekicks, imagination and innovation, are not just the domain of the big cities – our Taranaki farming sector; our Taranaki engineering sector; our creative industries – are some of the most innovative in the world. Our arts communities are as vibrant as any in New Zealand. The Taranaki environment has lots to offer. New Plymouth has won many accolades – so why wouldn’t people want to come? Check Taranaki out here: http://www.taranaki.co.nz/ and here: http://www.windwand.co.nz/

You can also listen to a pod-cast interview about the Creative Edge Forum at

http://rbtradio.com/edo/2011/12/0003-creativity-taranaki/

“The next ten years will require people to think and work across boundaries

into new zones that are totally different from their areas of expertise. They will

not only have to cross those boundaries, but they will also have to identify

opportunities and make connections between them.” Clement Monk – Designer

“Many engineering deadlocks have been broken by people who are not

engineers at all. This is because perspective is more important than IQ. The

ability to make big leaps of thought is a common denominator among the

originators of breakthrough ideas. Usually this ability resides in people with

very wide backgrounds, multidisciplinary minds, and a broad spectrum of

experiences.” Nicholas Negroponte MIT

WHEN?

Although yet to be finalised it is proposed to hold the forum over 3 days in April 2013. The original intention was to ‘attach it’ to WOMAD [World of Music Art and Dance] held in March but the logistics of accommodation and access to venues have caused a re-think.

WHERE ARE WE AT?

Planning has begun. I am presently talking with anyone who will listen – the best workshop facilitators [national and international], potential participants, potential funders, sponsors and partners, potential venue managers, Venture Taranaki and so on. All feedback to date has been positive. The budget is being prepared as is a web site, facebook page etc. I am also seeking to form a small group of committed people to work with me to make this exciting idea a reality. Interested?

Invitation: HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE CREATIVE EDGE FORUM?

You can support in the following ways:

 

Robert Alan Black, Ph.D., CSP, DLA * Creative Thinking Consultant * Creative Thinking Speaker * Creative Thinking Workshops