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Creativity is more than a painting on the wall - it is a process, a mindset, an attitude.

In order to best confront the challenges of the future, it is essential we create spaces and mindsets that enable and harness, creativity.

Arts based Mind Mapping is a creativity workshop created and developed by New Zealand artist Sam Melser (M.A) and Swiss Art Advisor Anis Mastroberardino. Initially conceptualised at St.Gallen University, in collaboration with psychologist Nilima Chowdhury (Ph.D) and educationalist Hanne Birk (Ph.D) the idea of the workshop is simple – to bring more art and creativity into the workplace.

Building trust is a central aspect of any functioning group - we develop this using improvisation, dialogue, and collaboration. 

During the workshop we look at 3 essential elements of creativity - trust, risk taking and problem solving. These elements, when combined, constitute key processes in the creative act. We look at these elements whilst creating a collective artwork that we interpret and assess, together. During this process we learn to bring our full selves - warts and all - to the table and to temporarily take refuge from the world of pragmatism, strategy and certainty, that we inhabit.   

More than a simple team building exercise, this workshop is a process for building agility and facilitating positive change in the workplace. 

The below photographs, featuring Hanne Birk, were taken in SQUARE, University of St.Gallen, in Feb 2023.

For more information: Anis : art@amcd.ch or Sam : sammelserart@gmail.com