Engage!

I've been working to establish a simple programme of creative development that can be used by people at any stage of their creative journey and that can be adapted successfully  by individuals, organisations and networks.  The groundwork has been done and I'm now starting out on the process. In addition to using the process myself I am also supporting: an organisation, a team of arts practitioners and a leadership network.  What's more it's an open process so I'd be happy to see more people get involved.

As we work through the process I'll post some notes here about how we get on. Hopefully we'll be able to provide some inspirations and resources for people interested in following a similar journey.

Essentially the process is about engaging with your own creative potential and with the potential of others.  Then it is about maintaining and deepening that commitment over time. Although  I find it helpful to think of the process in three stages, it is neither a linear or hierarchical process, it's a self-directed process in which each individual plots their own progress, one step at a time.

I'll keep my comments general as I'd like to see the process used in a variety of settings. but do get in touch if you've any queries or would like some advice about implementing a similar approach to your work.

The first step is, of course, getting started and as people often say, getting started is the hardest part.

There can be lots of different reasons for not starting but if, as if often the case, all that's stopping you is yourself then I recommend you act as if that barrier didn't exist. You might even realise that you've already started. This is where I'm starting - with a recognition that I've already begun. Getting started is deciding to engage. Arts In Development began as soon as I decided to start.

I'd like to invite you to engage with  your own creative potential, whilst supporting others to do the same.   Together we will explore the role of art in personal and community development.  This process will be different for everyone but I hope we can  learn from and support each other. I will use this site to share what I learn and provide some simple processes and tools that may help you too.

Here’s three tips to help you to engage:
1. Decide to start
2. Tell someone you've started that will make it more real - you can tell me if you like just fill in the contact form below 
3. Think of just one thing you can do to get started.

Let me know how you get