Making Space for Creativity

The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, launched his fifth Mission for a Better Britain today at MidKent College in Gillingham. Putting the politics completely to one side, it’s an important moment for anyone working in design and the creative industries.

Starmer argued that creativity is “the attribute that makes us human”. It drives innovation, progress and personal fulfilment. It’s how we explore our individual and collective imagination, develop critical thinking skills and cultivate empathy. But for many people there are precious few opportunities to nurture it.

The fundamentals of this argument are surely right. State schools in the UK have almost no resource to support creative education. It is marginalised in the curriculum. And the pathways into a career in architecture or product design, for example, remain heavily dependent on class, confidence and connections.

50% of architects are from privileged backgrounds and the data on class is unchanged since 2014.

So the Labour leader’s pledge today to put creativity ‘front and centre’ of the curriculum and ensure every young person will study a creative subject or sport till 16 has got to be welcome.

In our sector, a lot of great practices are trying to help champion this agenda. From Grimshaw to Open City, ArchiKids, Archimake and the new Young V&A. Commitment isn’t the problem. It’s mostly a question of scale and of reach to communities who are rarely engaged. This autumn will see Heatherwick Studio also launch a major new long-term initiative to deliver creative education for 10-14 year olds, working alongside two fantastic youth organisations in London.

There will be more details to follow. But meantime, it’s great to see creativity and young people lead the political agenda today.

Thomas Heatherwick said: “Creativity is like the most amazing form of renewable energy. As powerful as the wind and the sun. And young people can give us an endless supply, to power up Britain and remake this country. We just need to give them the education, the opportunities and a real sense of hope and inspiration which they can trust and believe in.”

by Matt Bell , Strategic Communications Director, Heatherwick Studio