Creativity and your Career: why you should do art at high school

Creativity and your Career@Anatinus

Dr Sarah Britten1 February 2014

“Schools… need… to foster the creativity that humans will need to set them apart from computers.” The Economist, January 2014

5 years ago, what I do for a living did not exist.

2 years ago, I quit my job with nowhere to go.

The top achievers of 2013. Most of them are planning to become

accountants and actuaries

It’s been a journey since 1992

Art was one of my 7 distinctions

I ended up with a PhD

And a job in advertising.

How I earn a living now

1. Brand and marketing strategy2. Social media and content strategy3. Copywriting (scripts, mailers)4. Freelance feature writing (journalism)5. Speaking and workshops6. Art (commissions and sales)

I’m also going to be an employer.

We have a mantra.

1. We work with people we like

2. We do work we love.3. We get things done.

The world of work is

changing.

This is scary.

1. Generation Flux

2. The Portfolio Career

3. The 4 year career

To survive, you need to be creative.

Why?

Art is good for all of that

• Problem-solving• Connecting with

yourself• Being comfortable

with ambiguity

If I could talk to Matrics now

1. What you end up doing probably doesn’t exist right now.

2. Just because you study for it, doesn’t mean you’ll end up doing it.

3. If you make mistakes, that’s ok.

What I look for in people

These are the skills that will always be useful no matter what.

• Be good at being flexible• Be good at solving

problems• Be good with people• Be good at writing• Be creative

“If you think about it, problem solving is the most basic skill that is required in every vocation and it is not something that can be taught.” Kanthan Pillay, CEO YFM

“Advice to Matrics: Travel, learn another language, learn to code, start a small business, think for yourself.” Michael Jordaan, Twitter, January 2014

Thank You

@Anatinussarahjbritten@gmail.com

thecreativityproject.co.za