Creativity and Human Development

This open access book examines how creativity has been mobilised as a cultural, social and policy resource in contemporary Ireland, using the Creative Ireland Programme as a lens through which to understand the wider relationship between creativity, public value and democratic life.

Organised across historical, philosophical, educational and practice-based perspectives, this edited collection traces how creativity has shaped Irish political culture, national identity and public policy from the early twentieth century to the present. Chapters explore creativity as a foundation for human agency and care; creativity as a science of possibility; the implications of artificial intelligence; creativity in education, childhood and ageing; theatre, literature and spatial design as engines of civic imagination; and the role of music, migration, hospitality and legal frameworks in shaping creative societies. Together, the contributions show how Ireland’s cultural institutions, artistic practices and policy experiments offer distinctive case studies in how creativity can inform governance, community development and social cohesion. The book also reflects on the challenges of developing a shared language of creativity across sectors, and on the opportunities for embedding creative thinking within public administration and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Intended for scholars and practitioners in creativity studies, cultural policy, arts management, education, sociology, political science, design, architecture, migration studies and Irish studies, this is an invaluable resource for policymakers and cultural organisations seeking to understand how creativity can be leveraged as a strategic resource for societal and human development.

Michael O’Reilly is a lawyer with an extensive background in legal practice, cultural policy development, political consultancy, and the arts. He worked as a senior consultant to 'Ireland 2016', the Government’s 1916 centenary commemoration programme, followed by the conceptualisation and design of its legacy initiative: 'Creative Ireland'.