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Components of creative capacity
Numerous researchers have explored artistic excellence and attempted to deconstruct
it into elements that can be assessed or quantified. Based on the literature
reviewed for this paper, the historical focus on an organisation’s reputation,
technical skill and artistry is giving way to a more holistic understanding
of the organisational conditions in which high quality programmes are likely to
be conceived and realised. The Australia Council’s artistic vibrancy framework
provides a multi-dimensional model for artistic health, but there is still no
broader consensus amongst researchers as to what makes an organisation healthy
in an artistic, creative or cultural sense. This is unfortunate, given the importance
of the creative process to any cultural enterprise. Perhaps more than anything else,
the vitality of the sector as a whole depends on the abilities of its creative leaders
to continually produce excellent programmes.
Drawing on the previously discussed literature and additional references,
including findings from a review of quality in arts education (Lord et al, 2012) 3 ,
we conclude this section with a summary of the elements of ‘creative capacity’.
These elements are organised into two categories – core elements, and conditional
elements, as follows:
Core elements of ‘creative capacity’ – consistent elements that do not
vary from organisation to organisation
• Clarity of intent and commitment to risk-taking
• Community relevance
• Excellence in curating and capacity to innovate
• Technical proficiency, skill and artistry
• Capacity to engage audiences
• Critical feedback and commitment to continuous improvement
Conditional elements of ‘creative capacity’ – elements that may or
may not apply to a given organisation, depending on its mission and
programmatic focus
• Supportive networks
• Sufficient risk capital
3 While the arts education literature was not a focus of our review, the well developed
body of literature in the arts education field could shed a good deal of light on individual
impacts for adults, as well as the notion of quality from an organizational perspective.
A literature review from 2012 (Lord et al), published by the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER) contributes helpful perspective in this regard.
CREATIVE CAPACITY OF AN ORGANISATION 116
UNDERSTANDING the value and impacts of cultural experiences