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Mary Kippenberger and Peter Charlton-Jones collectively known as 'Rhubarb' - who will be running a storytelling workshop at the NZ Creativity Challenge

A conference focussing on all aspects of creativity – in education, in business, in the
arts, in communities and in social enterprise – is to be held at Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki on the 27 -28th April, and early bird registrations are now
open.

The conference has attracted some of the best presenters the world has to offer in their fields including international presenters from Canada, the US, South Africa and Australia as well as our very own from within Taranaki and further afield in New Zealand.

Wayne Morris, one of the NZ Creativity organising team has this to say. “The standard is fantastic. We have business change experts, educators, mind map and
memory gurus, artists, storytellers, professors, jugglers, sculptors, academics,
GapFillers [think earthquake aftermath!], bloggers, social entrepreneurs and
photographers giving keynotes and running workshops – there is something for
everyone.”

Creativity has been maligned, neglected, and misunderstood. Morris says that one of
the reasons for hosting such an event is to challenge the misconceptions people have
about creativity. “The biggest misconceptions seem to be around people’s beliefs that
only special people are really creative – its something that us mere mortals can’t be;
that creativity is about special activities – namely the arts; and that creativity is just about letting it all hang out. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Morris continues. “We live in a world that struggles to adapt to vastly differing
perspectives while facing difficult times. Old ways of doing things are simply not
working any longer. It is critical to spread the idea of imagination, creativity, and
innovation as indispensable tools of survival for all: artists, scientists, teachers,
entrepreneurs, students, mathematicians, politicians and business leaders – everyone.  This is the Creativity Challenge.”

Morris acknowledges the support that has been forthcoming in getting the Creativity
Challenge conference up and running. “This is all being done by a small group of
volunteers whose support I would like to acknowledge and also the generous support
given to us by a number of organisations including the TSB Community Trust, NPDC
Creative Communities, WITT, Massey University, VTT, the Learning Connexion and the Bishops Action Foundation.”

For more information and to register go to www.nzcreativity.co.nz or contact Wayne Morris [email protected]

Tags: Arts