Fostering creativity: arts education is a better place to start than Play-Doh for adults

Today’s Globe and Mail features an article on fostering creativity for business and government types. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/battle-of-the-brainstorms-should-you-be-all-business-or-be-creative/article1603948/) Citing a new book by author Alexander Hiam, Business Innovation for Dummies, it suggests you exercise your creative muscles though tactile activities like Play-Doh or building blocks, obviously the mainstay of the pre-school set.

An alternative option, with far-lasting impact and benefits, would be for the key leaders in our society to ensure arts education has a meaningful place in our educations system. Often seen as a frill, experience and study demonstrate that effective and sustained arts education programs throughout a student’s career lead to enhanced creativity, imagination and effectiveness.

So rather than investing in Play-Doh for execs, perhaps we should consider the policies and actions necessary to put in place some meaningful arts education for all students.