THE PROTOTYPE
Lab for applied creativity
© Mycle Heupel, Barcelona, 6.6.04 (mycle2000@yahoo.com)
Project
The project is designed to create a meeting-communication-action platform for artists and entrepreneurs (business people) to discover mutual interests and individual qualities. Creativity cannot be explored in full without getting its protagonists involved: that is where the artists come in. On the other hand there are more people applying creativity in their professions: that is where entrepreneurs appear.
Given that creativity is one of the basic elements that make a human being it is also one of its main powers. Intention (conscious or unconscious) defines the creative action and its quality: it may be applied to destructive aims as much as for benevolent goals or self-indulgent behavior. Should everything that can be conceived really also be done? It could prove valuable to investigate the holistic aspect of creativity in times of interconnectedness and globalization: can we afford solutions that don't carry a 'win-win' mentality?
Service
Since there is hardly any research in creativity involving its protagonists this project could help to shade some unexpected light on the nature of the creative process. The continual exchange and interaction between artists and entrepreneurs/businesspeople provides the investigation with a direct link into society. This process is becoming more and more important in the fast changing times we are living in.
An education, for example, that fills young people up with 'knowledge' that is already out of date by the time of their exams or earlier, and excludes creativity completely leaves the creatively gifted in trial and error. This can become very expensive in terms of wasting (human) resources, time and money.
On the other hand it leaves not only young people insecure about their own capacities and talents. How many doubts 'cost' how much in terms of spoiling resources by low self-esteem? If in any part of daily life something 'goes wrong', who is prepared to find creative solutions?
Qualities
Some of the qualities involved and investigated in The Prototype may be: uniqueness, eccentricity, rawness, individuality, courage, symbiosis, complementarity, cooperation, perseverance, ecstasy.
At the same time there are processes, which deserve special attention: the (permanent) flow of ideas become explorations, discoveries, artwork, concerts, events, products, offerings ...
There is no limit to investigate from every angle anything that comes up as long as it relates to creativity.
Structure
A workshop-like atmosphere is obviously best suited for creative work, practice, investigation and application.
It should be organized by people whose special ability and willingness is to organize and mediate between people with different ways of perception and expression like, for example, cultural managers.
Regular and ad hoc meetings between artists, entrepreneurs (business people) and the mediating/managing person (team) should be arranged easily.
People
- qualified artists open to and interested in the project (composers, painters, sculptors, dancers, writer etc) as creators and investigators.
- entrepreneurs and business people interested in the project and in positions to apply findings.
- a managing/mediating person/team or group responsible for internal communication flow between participants, externally with the media.
Starting with just a few individuals and then letting the project grow in its own rhythm could be an advantage: to know each other personally and communicate on such a level is mandatory!
Objectives
Internally the open and fruitful exchange between such different creative people as artists and entrepreneurs, externally the manifestation of creative/artistic work, collaborations, events, inventions etc. The whole process any findings in it should be documented and published in writing and recording by different media (print, photo, video, CD).
Ethics
It must be clear that an abuse of any of the people and their particular skills involved in the project should never even be considered. Creativity research has very personal and therefore intimate aspects and an open and fruitful exchange and collaboration is not possible without mutual respect, interest and understanding.
Funding
- company
- private individuals (creativity passionates)
- events
- workshops
- products
- publications
Budget
- fixed budget
- income from events,workshops, products, publications
References
- Mycle Heupel creativity/consciousness website with relevant articles in the consciousness section (Integral Arts, Creativity-the arts 4 U, Creativity-the arts,Creativity-The scandal of not getting paid , Patrons net etc)
- Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class - book, website
- Hombroich (art collection, art/music/poetry/science/ethics(CoB) - freilicht museum aktions-zentrum (Biz, Ethics,Science)
- 'Funky Business' (Ridderwalde/Nordstroem) - book
- 'Karaoke Capitalism' (Ridderwalde/Nordstroem) - book
- 'Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace' Ricardo Semler - Book
- 'The Seven-Day Weekend: Changing the Way Work Works' - Ricardo Semler (Semco) -
- Joan Hortala - 'el periodico' article
Webresources
- http://www.mycleheupel.com (Heupel)
- http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1397,1569009,00.asp (Semler)
- http://www.inselhombroich.de (Hombroich)
- http://www.karaokecapitalism.com Ridderwalde/Nordstroem
- http://www.funkybusiness.com Ridderwalde/Nordstroem
- http://www.creativeclass.org Florida
Lord Stevenson, the chairman of the Pearson Group and former chairman of the Tate, warned the fellows that their job would be difficult. "Leadership in the arts is considerably more difficult than leadership in business," he said. There was no bottom line to be measured by; they were dealing with "that very fragile thing called artistic judgement, artistic taste," and they were subjected to far more public scrutiny than business ever was. "We in business rarely take the kind of risks that people in the arts do," he added. (Yahoo news, excerpt)
