Centre for Creativity

Whether you are in the arts, in business, in technology, science, or social enterprise, “creativity” is a value that everyone wants to cultivate, and no one can clearly define. Is creativity a talent that some have more of than others, or is it an attribute that can be developed in everyone? Does it work more effectively in teams or individually? Gradually or with sudden disruptions? Does it function differently across cultures, communities, disciplines, languages?  

Lots of talented people, at UofT and elsewhere, are engaged in creative or innovative enterprises of one kind or another, doing amazing work in their specific areas of expertise. But there are surprisingly few places where people across these siloed disciplines can get together to compare ideas, share best practices, and collaborate. And one of the few things that research into creativity seems quite clear on is that approaching a subject from different perspectives consistently has a positive impact on generating ideas and finding solutions. It’s also fun. 

From the arts we know that creativity is valuable in and of itself, that it brings joy and community even when its impact is personal or ephemeral. From the sciences we intuit that with rigorous analysis and context we can learn more about how creativity functions, and how it can be developed at the individual and communal level. From business we sense that developing creative problem-solving skills is an essential aspect of all successful enterprises. And from social enterprise we believe that creativity can have a positive impact in the wider world that craves innovative approaches to persistent societal challenges. Founded in 2024 by Launch Director Adam Sol, the Victoria University Centre for Creativity is a hub for conversations, convergences, and interactive play, to explore what creativity is and to put it into practice. 

Interested in hosting an event with the Centre for Creativity? We especially love event ideas from students! Get in touch with us at vic.creativity@utoronto.ca.