10 things your organisation can do (& practical steps to do them)

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1. Think it through 

  • This may be a new area of work for you. Dedicate some time to preparing how you plan to support and consider how this work could positively affect your whole organisation in its thinking and approach.
  • Appoint one person or a small group in your organisation as “everyday creativity” researcher(s) or champion(s). There will be people across your organisation with a range of interests so think beyond participation and marketing teams.
  • Consider what assets you can offer as an organisation – space, materials etc. What might a writer or dancer or group need to support their practice?
  • Create a directory of opportunities your organisation has to offer – lots of groups say they don’t know what mainstream arts organisations offer.
  • Consider the processes that need to be put in place – for example, if you plan to offer space; prizes for group fundraising initiatives; or materials for local creatives – establishing a system and a main point of contact or a ‘Champion’ will be crucial for managing support and relationships.
  • Build a list of local groups and organisations – think laterally, there will be more than you think! Start with your local authority, community newsletters, social media channels and Creative Lives’ Creativity Map.
  • Get in touch with your local authority arts development officer or equivalent to see how your organisation can support any wider cultural strategies around everyday creativity.
  • Don’t forget the 3 Rs: Relate, Respect, Reciprocate. Do your plans follow these principles? Relate – are your plans based on conversations? Respect – do they consider people’s needs and issues? Reciprocate – what do you need to give back?

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2. Get colleagues and networks on board

  • Get wider staff, trustees and volunteers onboard with the importance of this work in supporting the wider creative and cultural ecology.
  • We know that active ‘everyday creatives’ often take part in multiple activities. Who else in your team could help? Draw on the knowledge and networks of staff and volunteers as they may be involved in other creative activities elsewhere.
  • Forming a group of everyday champions – to act as advisers, researchers and possibly first point of contact – this might also help with internal advocacy.
  • Recruit one or some everyday creative connectors on your Board.

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3. Be a local resource

  • Share your assets. Consider offering spaces at low / no cost or lending equipment. Think about tours and talks and back-office advice e.g. fundraising, occasional ticketing services etc.
  • Post your offer on a Facebook page and other social media channels. Check out The Albany’s For Creatives page for inspiration.
  • Deliver an annual event or Open Day to showcase what you can offer and listen to people’s needs and suggestions.
  • Be a hub – where groups can congregate and cross-fertilise.
  • Invite groups and individuals to be part of a social media group where you – and they – can share information about spaces to use, materials, opportunities to share their work, places on training courses etc. This isn’t about promoting your
  • wider offer, it’s a mechanism to support groups and make connections.
  • Advertise for groups. Think about how you could usefully use your own platforms to support recruitment for local groups.

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4. Be present, be open

  • Work with groups and individuals to find out what might be useful to them. There might be specific areas of support needed locally.
  • Build relationships for their own sake. Attend local events and spend time in community spaces to grow your connections with group organisers and creatives.
  • If you don’t already, join a group yourself and encourage others to join too.
  • Don’t think “us and them” – most of us are everyday creatives – even if we have different areas of interest.

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5. Be a platform 

  • We’ve seen how important validation is to ‘everyday creatives’, so think about how you can support groups and individuals in this area.
  • Create a space or platform to share and celebrate the work of ‘everyday creatives’. This could be a community gallery, a digital space, a showcase event, a page on your website. Check out Southwark Gallery’s Community Exhibitions for inspiration.
  • Running competitions can be a way of engaging local creatives and showing their work. Co-create opportunities with groups and individuals to ensure competitions are attractive and meet their interests and needs i.e. time and commitment etc.

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6. Create a framework

  • We know that ‘everyday creatives’ are on the lookout for ideas and inspiration. Experiment with challenges that invite creativity and the sharing of people’s work or contributions as part of a community. Check out 64 Million Artists’ January Challenge or Craft Space’s Eco Drag Challenge for inspiration.
  • Explore the work of Fun Palaces, and the organisations on their ‘map’ that offer their space up for others to take the lead. Check out the Maker Stories for inspiration.

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7. Be a support

  • Organisers are often time pressed and in need of support. Therefore, adding to their workload is not the aim. Rather, think how you can make things easier for them around communications and the best methods for them to be in touch.
  • If offering space to groups, firstly ensure that you keep to your commitment and that the space is suitable for their needs when they arrive.
  • Make admin and organising easier for groups if they decide to connect with other areas of your programme – from booking tickets to providing group friendly information.
  • Offer time and space for peer networking among group-organisers.
  • Celebrate and recognise their achievements, for example by offering free tickets, coffee and prizes or by taking an interest in their events and activities.

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8. Be ‘everyday creative’ friendly

  • Engaging with everyday creatives shouldn’t happen in a silo or feel like an extra piece of work. Explore what people in your own organisation need. 
  • Encourage, support and celebrate your team’s everyday creativity.
  • Consider opportunities for staff to further their interests, whether that’s supporting time for personal projects or encouraging people to engage in  activities during breaks at work.
  • Create showcase opportunities and encourage people to share their experiences as part of staff engagement, meetings or away days.

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9. Use what’s there 

  • Explore what’s already out there. There are lots of organisations already working in this space. Don’t compete, collaborate – or signpost people to existing resources.
  • Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Think through the assets you have and test what might be useful.

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10. Listen and review

  • Listen to feedback into what’s been useful and not useful to better respond to people’s needs and interests.
  • Reflect on any challenges that have emerged in terms of practicalities and ways these can be ironed out.
  • Reflect on the impact that your approach has had on your  organisation with staff.
  • If you’ve worked on a project/ programme in partnership with a group, involve them in the evaluation and share the learning. Can you co-design and co-deliver the evaluation plan?