Art and creativity as a driver of change

The royal crown has an irregular shape, so it can neither be measured nor weighed in the usual way. Archimedes gets stuck and steps into a bath instead of brooding further. And it's there, when the water rushes over the edge of the bathtub, that he understands how to measure volume. Suddenly, a solution arises that previously did not even exist in his world of thought. Heureka!

The story of Archimedes is about the core of creativity. New ideas rarely come from pushing ourselves harder, but from changing the environment, perspective or method. 

In today's organizations, where the challenges are as tricky as the king's crown, we need to set creativity in motion. It's about finding that bathtub that allows new thoughts to arise. And to dare to step in! 

The fact that art and culture challenge and broaden horizons has been known for a long time. And creativity can be a catalyst for creativity – not because it will "become something nice", but because the process opens up the brain and new things become visible. 

Sundsvall, 2025 AD In connection with Mid Sweden University's anniversary week, we had the opportunity to let art and creativity take place in the celebrations. Our idea of an Art Hub allowed employees to explore what creativity can mean in an academic environment. Creative workshops, lectures and a large opening in an exciting venue put art at the center.

The result: Seventeen employees worked out works for an exhibition on the theme "Creative Force Fields", another twenty brave employees contributed with works that have been created in our creative workshop. Over 200 employees came to the opening and met in a completely new way in a hitherto unused space – Ismagasinet. At the end, 50 listeners came to listen to our three lecturers who in different ways talked about art and education. 

"We at the Art Hub felt that a force was set in motion". The initiators of the
konsthubben: Lena Sjödin Roman, Edith Andresen and Victoria Engholm.

When the world around us is characterized by conflicts and an increasingly harsh public discourse, questions about education and cultural expression are particularly important. When the pillars of democracy are challenged, we need more points of orientation and counter-forces. Art, culture and creative creation can be just that.

Aesthetic processes strengthen our ability to think critically, deal with complexity, and imagine alternative futures. These are capabilities that organizations need.

Art and creativity are not sidetracks or pleasant elements besides "the real work". They are a possible engine of change. An engine that can both broaden perspectives and give people the power to act in a time that demands just that.

Therefore, we are now, together with the CER network, working for a continuation of the Art Hub; more creativity, more meeting places for courageous thinking and a commissioned education on creativity and self-leadership.