The Power of Creativity: Why Every Student Should Explore the Arts
Richard Lee
Back in January, I watched as Headingley Stadium came alive with the vibrant culture and talent Leeds has to offer, and I knew 2023 was going to be an unforgettable year. It confirmed something that I was already pretty sure of; I wanted to be a part of it.
I’ve worked in the arts for over 30 years, starting as a theatre technician right through to my current role as Assistant Principal for Creative Arts at Leeds City College. I’m responsible for around 1,500 passionate students studying music, journalism, dance, filmmaking, art, games design and more.
The students I work with are an enormous source of pride for me; each one has their own individual talents, resulting in creative work that is emotive and meaningful. But with the aim of Leeds 2023 being to awaken the artist in everyone, I started to wonder: how do I engage the thousands of students outside of our Creative Arts school?
I’m a firm believer that anyone and everyone can be a creative, and what’s more, they should be. It’s not always about painting like Picasso or writing lyrics like Taylor Swift — creativity is something we can practise every day, even in ways that aren’t seen as traditionally ‘creative’.
There’s been much talk in academic circles at the moment about science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) education and the idea that the arts are an integral part of innovation in fields such as science, engineering and maths. Throughout the labs, workshops, offices and plants, it’s clear that these industries are crying out for creative minds.
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Complex problems often require innovative solutions. If we’re educating the next generation of inventors and developers of cutting-edge technology, it is essential to instil in them an ability to think creatively.
We often talk of the arts and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects as counterpoints, with people often aligning themselves to one or the other. But we must remember that some of the greatest scientific minds throughout history were also poets, painters and writers. When we ran our recent poetry competition, I was delighted to see so many entrants from learners studying non-traditionally creative subjects.
By encouraging all young people to explore their artistic side, we give them the tools needed to develop essential life skills like problem-solving, communication and empathy.
Having a creative outlet is also vital from a wellbeing perspective. Arts subjects encourage a unique form of self-expression and provide an effective platform for exploring your emotions and identity. Such outlets are vital for young people who are taking their first steps into adult life, and figuring out who they are and who they want to become.
I’ve seen the lives of students utterly transformed by their engagement with creative arts (think Billy Elliot, but with less spontaneous singing). It’s been my mission this year to make sure that as many young people as possible engage with the arts in some way, big or small. From joinery students creating sculptures and animal care students developing photographs, to health care students painting and the creative arts faculty giving away 20,230 pieces of art, I want to be able to say everyone at Leeds City College did something creative this year.
But this mission shouldn’t stop with one college, one city, one year. If, across the country, we could work towards implementing creative learning as a part of all curriculums, we’d be opening doors for a whole generation of thinkers and expanding the potential of our future workforce.
So, what’s the takeaway? To my fellow educators, parents and anyone reading this article — never underestimate the power of creativity. Encourage the young people in your life to find creative outlets in wherever their passions lie. Take inspiration from the wealth of culture our city has to offer, and awaken their inner artist.
Luminate Education Group are a LEEDS 2023 Gold Education Partner
