Creativity Why It Matters

Enriching lives and places, creativity builds a stronger society filled with happier, healthier people. For children born into a world of unprecedented technological, political, and environmental change, those whose creativity has been nurtured will be best equipped to flourish. This book argues the importance of creativity for everyone. It is not the sole preserve of arts-based subjects, but at the heart of medical, scientific, engineering, and entrepreneurial progress, too. Identifying the education system as the best route to ensure cultural benefits are open to all, Darren Henley argues that creativity should be at its heart. It is only by equipping children with the creativity to make the best use of their talents, and providing them with expert teachers who can nurture those abilities, that the next generation will have the skills necessary to invent tomorrow.

Darren Henley, OBE, is chief executive of Arts Council England. His two independent government reviews into music and cultural education resulted in England's first National Plan for Music Education, new networks of Music Education Hubs, Cultural Education Partnerships and Heritage Schools, the Museums and Schools programme, the BFI Film Academy and the National Youth Dance Company. Before joining the Arts Council, he led Classic FM for 15 years. He holds degrees in politics from the University of Hull, in management from the University of South Wales, and in history of art from the University of Buckingham. A recipient of the British Academy President's Medal for his contributions to music education, music research and the arts, his books include The Virtuous Circle: Why Creativity and Cultural Education Count and The Arts Dividend: Why Investment in Culture Pays.