The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Reprinted from Arts In Education, March 1990 Newsletter CREATIVITY - INHERENT OR LEARNED A Simon Fraser University researcher be lieves that although some people seem natu rally creative, those less fortunate can be taught to use innovative and creative think ing in education, business and government. Ernie Zelinski says developing the ability to be creative is recognized increasingly as one of the most important goals of the education process, and this doesn't apply just to the public school system. Business Week reports that more than half of the Fortune 500 companies send their manag ers for creative training, a trend which supports Einstein's statement "Imagination is more important than knowledge". "Creativity is more than knowledge. This is an important distinction. Many people feel that grasping and remembering a myriad of facts and figures will give them an edge in life. It may, but it is more likely just to make them good atTrivial Pursuit," says Zelinski. He says that there are two types of thinking, hard and soft. "Soft is the mode where most of us can improve and it is the one that many artists and musicians are good at. Soft think ing requires us to be flexible at random, the mode for generating a large number of ideas. Research shows soft thinking is done by the right side of the brain and it should be done before any hard thinking is started. "Hard thinking is what most people are good at; it is what we have traditionally been rewarded for by schools and employ ers. It emphasizes logic and practicality and is good for analyzing ideas. True creative thinking is dependent on both modes. First generate ideas by soft thinking then use hard thinking to analyze and implement". Zelinski has researched far and wide for an encompassing definition for creativity but none seems to sum up the attribute more succinctly than one by Dr. E. Land, inven tor of the Polaroid: "Creativity is the sud den cessation of stupidity". STATE OF THE ATRS FORUM The North Shore Arts Commission will hold a public forum: `The State of the Arts' on Thursday April 26, 1990, 7 p.m. at Capilano College. The purpose of the forum is to provide the opportunity for the Arts Commission to give a Report on past and present activities and receive input from the community con cerning our future direction. The Arts Commission invites you to pres ent a one to two minute report on, the most significant development, program or event you or your organization has been involved with over the past year, topics you would like to see on the Arts Commission Agenda in 1990-91 and/or your response to the Commission's work to date. If you are interested in making a presentation please contact the North Shore Arts Commission office, at 980-3559, to notify them of your participation. The schedule of the State of the Arts Forum will be as follows: Arrival entertainment - Pro Nova String Quartet Welcome - Dr. Doug Jardine Keynote Speaker - Max Wyman Performance Speaker - "Activating the Arts" Performance NSAC Address - Judy Dennis Open Forum Reception Display space and Graffiti Boards will be available in the lobby for organizations to exhibit materials. An afternoon workshop entitled "Activating the Arts" will be held from 1-4 p.m. April 26 at the College. The workshop will present an overview then breakdown into work groups developing strategies in areas of lobbying, fundraising and advocacy. Registration for afternoon workshop is lim ited. Fee $5.00. Contact NSAC office staff for enrollment information. The Arts Commission looks forward to your participation in the 1990 State of the Arts Forum. Sincerely, Judy Dennis THE PATH TO SUCCESS IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS THAT WERE CARRIED OUT. Bob Edwards Julie Brown · Rrap, "Secret Strategies / Ideal Spaces." b/w phptograph. fromAURORA AUSTRALIS: Film & Photographic Works