ABSTRACT
People who are part of the artistic infrastructure report that they value creativity, per se, and most arts managers, and many arts workers, like to think of themselves as taking a particularly imaginative and inventive approach to resolving the many and various organizational and operational issues they encounter commonly. In fact, creativity is not the sole preserve of the artist, and the attributes of passion, energy and commitment, imaginative invention and inspired lateral thinking are just as much a part of arts administrator's or manager's skills. Six years ago, a BBC Radio Four programme investigated 'Creative Genius' and journalist Ian Peacock described how the evolution of language and the use of metaphor kick started creativity. He found that creativity is unleashed by some kinds of brain damage and that neuroscience is now beginning to shed light on the mystery of creativity. It is concluded that that creative genius is something of a mixed blessing.
