2 Planning a Creative Workshop

Before the workshop, you will need to think about practicalities such as finding a good venue, with the right facilities, in a location that the majority of participants (especially the primary ones) will find easy to access. You want to encourage openness, so think about whether the venue is a neutral one for all partners. Make sure you have allowed for any special requirements such as wheelchair access, and make arrangements for food and drink. Ensure that all participants know the location and timings, and suggest that they dress casually if this is appropriate.

Activity 2

Timing: Allow around 10 minutes for this activity

In the text box below, reflect on when you are at your most creative and innovative, and then think about what influencing factors you could replicate at the Creative Workshop. For example, I feel creative when I am relaxed and comfortable, so a very formal environment for a workshop wouldn’t work for me. You might also find it helpful to think about when you aren’t feeling creative. What do you need to avoid?

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Discussion

Your answers will be personal to you, although there are some universal comfort factors such as being hydrated and having enough fresh air. Perhaps you’re at your most creative and innovative when you’re walking; in other words, not when sitting at a desk. Many people become creative and animated when talking with others about a subject that interests them. Talking from your own perspective helps you to work out the detail of what you think and feel, and hearing other perspectives either reinforces, expands or challenges that, and encourages you to think about your own perspective more deeply.

So, you could give participants at your Creative Workshop time to walk around, perhaps provide tea and coffee breaks outside the building so that they can get some fresh air. This will also give them an opportunity to mingle and chat informally, and take some exercise to foster creative thinking.

Photo of yellow sports car driving fast on a road
Figure 2 We all have latent intellectual power; we just need a Creative Workshop to unleash it

There are six steps in planning a Creative Workshop, as shown in the flow diagram in Figure 3. A clear step-by-step schedule of activities and timings for each activity will help to make the planning a success. During the Creative Workshop itself you can manage your available time and decide how long to dedicate to each step.

Vertical flow chart diagram with six boxes showing the steps in a Creative Workshop. Box 1: Introduce plan, Box 2: Define focus area, Box 3: Display interim progress, Box 4: Engage and participate, Box 5: Regroup and share interim outcomes, Box 6: Build further.
Figure 3 The steps in a Creative Workshop

1.2 Who should attend?

2.1 Introduce plan