Creating creativity

Can it be done? Well, it seems the Singapore government thinks so. Apparently this country - which is booming successful in many ways (and within a very short lifespan to boot) - has realised it has a shortfall: a lack spontaneous creativity. So the government has been investing in a programme to achieve it.

I was discussing this with a US friend recently. From our perspective, 'manufacturing creativity' from the top down seemed totally bizarre. In the West most of the key creative breakthroughs (visual arts, dance, music etc) develop at street level, or with small groups of individuals - then work their way from the bottom up into the mainstream over time.

The crucial ingredients/catalysts for this are often things like:
a) Spontaneity
b) Organic growth
c) Lack of cash!
d) Lack of conformity
e) Rawness
f) Diversity (of race, class, gender.. etc)
g) Independence.

So the concept of being able to make all of these things 'appear' through a polished government investment programme seems topsy-turvy. The mere fact there are the words 'government' and 'investment programme' in there cancel out most of this list to start off with!

Also my observation of Singapore so far is that it has ethnic diversity (Asian races) but it's a new country and does not have that kind which I can only describe as 'edge' or 'street diversity'. This 'edge' thing is hard to define but you see it and feel it in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo. It might have something to do with rebellion, independence, character, sometimes poverty/conflict and perhaps a kind of enterprise. But it's definitely a mindset and it is not conventional or necessarily respectable*. It often leads the way in creative fields.

Therefore, if I have read it right (I might not have!) the government might be out not to simply 'capture the existing raw talent' but manufacture an entire mindset from scratch.

SO I was a bit sceptical when I entered SOTA the other day.

I had actually noticed this building - an unusual, and impressively massive one! - on my way to taekwondo, and assumed it was some government HQ or perhaps a municipal art gallery. It's not.

SOTA (School of the Arts) is a Singaporean artschool designed for 13-18 year olds. It was opened in 2008 on the edge of Orchard Road, and caters for visual and performing arts, with the aim of making a more creative Singapore. Well, I guess if you want to create a new mindset in some individuals, 13 is a good age to start! And when I went in to see what was going on, the art was not at all bad. Check it out below.



Anyway, I guess only time will tell how successful this 'creativity drive' proves to be. One thing seems probable though: if anyone can force something unlikely to happen, through strategic planning, and sheer hard work, it would probably be the Singapore government!

Footnotes:

*I spoke to a young Singaporean artist recently who seemed to think that 'edge' meant 'shocking people with something illegal, or to do with sex / nudity' etc. It is not the same thing. Edgy creativity does not need to shock but it has to be new and, original. (And having studied at art school I can state for definite that shocking with sex and nudity is not original!)

Having said all this, I am sure there will be a lot of Singaporeans relieved that the goverment is suddenly making arts a viable career route. I remember (though this was about 1 million years ago) being greeted with horror by E Asian relatives, when I said I had a top role at one of London's leading art galleries. The resounding, and concerned, return: "You are not a doctor? Or a lawyer??"