Creative capacity in Ireland: working towards well-being

Abstract

This report presents research on creativity and well-being in an Irish context. The research was funded by the Creative Ireland programme through the Irish Research Council’s New Foundations scheme.

The research explores the conceptual base of creativity and well-being and particularly their point of intersection. It contains a discussion of how both creativity and well-being are conceptually fluid concepts, which have rich discursive traditions, can be interpreted in myriad ways and necessitate clear contextualisation.

The report contains details of a range of international studies and policy frameworks. These enable creativity and well-being practices in Ireland to be better located within global policy.

The research reports that there is a strong basis in creative work for well-being, both in terms of advancements in contemporary practice, imperatives in modern Irish society, but also a traditional function and perspective of creative practice in Ireland. A taxonomy of well-being in creative contexts is required, incorporating foundational, ameliorative and interventionist perspectives. In discussing best practice in Ireland, the report considers four themes; intentionality and evaluation; sustainable creative communities; creativity as process and product; and participant and practitioner well-being. It also presents four vignettes of practice which showcase both the range and quality of creativity and well-being work extant in Ireland.

Successful work in creativity and well-being in the research is characterised in the report as being community-based, responsive, longitudinal, sustainable, and involving experienced practitioners.

Finally, the report returns a set of conclusions which contain specific recommendations on evaluation, process, intentionality, partnership, availability of data, further training, and practitioner well-being.