Creative workforce an economic boon
For those of you with wanderlust in your soul, there is no romantic Arcadia as wondrous as the Royal Gardens at Highgrove, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. This magical estate is a place where your senses will be enlivened. It is evident that, in order to flawlessly curate the gardens’ aesthetic experience, a guild of imaginative creatives is at play in every aspect. This includes gardeners, chefs, artisans, product designers, artists, tour guides, and website developers.
One of my favorite products in the estate shop is “The Highgrove Suite,” a contemporary classical harp concerto by British composer Patrick Hawes, which was commissioned by Prince Charles in 2010. When listening to this music, you will drift into a serene dreamscape, touched by its celestial artistry and the beauty of the gardens. I mention this vision as I come to realize that the creative arts play a vibrant role in every aspect of our lives. The creativity surrounding us is invaluable to our human experience — and it is all thanks to the work of the creative industries. The UN Conference on Trade and Development published a report in 2019 that asserted that the global market value for creative goods had grown from $208 billion in 2002 to $509 billion in 2015, enjoying export growth rates of more than 7 percent during these 13 years. Furthermore, the creative arts play a key role in improving our physical and emotional wellbeing, fashioning sought-after products, immersing us in unforgettable experiences, preserving our heritage and cultural legacy, and boosting tourism.
With the growing significance and resilience of the creative industries, it is imperative that younger generations have access to a universal and engaging creative arts education. Sir Ken Robinson, an influential British expert on arts education, believed that teaching creativity unleashes a torrent of innovations and improvements to mankind. Indeed, by fostering this important skill among children and young people, we can pave the way for a series of economically viable ideas, inventions, and experiences. An effective creative arts curriculum would, thus, immerse children, from as young an age as possible, in a wide range of creative activities in order to build a repertoire of knowledge and competencies. At the same time, important skills, such as imagination, communication, divergent thinking, problem-solving, risk-taking, and perseverance, are fostered during the creative process.
But creative arts education need not be limited to school or higher education settings. Increasingly, many museums are playing a pivotal role in supporting creative arts education through on-site storytelling performances, workshops with artists and designers, gallery tours, and learning studios. Additionally, many digital platforms are providing a fantastic suite of online art courses that are affordable and accessible.
It is evident that, by investing in the creative workforce, we will be able to shape new economic frontiers, which are vital for competing in the 21st century.
Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted via www.amorelicious.com.