Creative Sustainability – Expert Lab.

Enrol Now!

Start now

About this Expert Lab

We need to embrace creative sustainability to tackle climate change, social inequalities and design new economic and business models and ways of living for the New Reality; and, above all, because we are not doing enough for protecting the environment.

This Expert Lab provides a practice-oriented, holistic and future-fit introduction to connecting creativity and sustainability for individuals, organisations and societies. The Expert Lab investigates how we can embrace the power of nature to rethink entire ecosystems, value-chains, business models and ways of living.

The course follows a journey from the individual immersion in nature to embedding nature as part of the creative process to tackle key challenges such as climate change, social inclusion and economic development; it presents case studies from across Europe and beyond from multiple actors (cities, corporations, networks and NGOs, etc.).

Who is this Expert Lab for?

This course is for professionals (and, of course, anyone interested in the topic!) with an active interest embracing sustainability as a mindset to foster a sustainable transformation in a practical and tangible way. Whether you work in the public or private sector, a corporation or start-up, and NGO, a foundation, network or civil society platform, this course will give you the skills to generate and implement innovative ideas to embed creative sustainability into business and organisational models, services and products design and into your very own creative lifestyle.

By participating in this Expert Lab you will

• Gain increased knowledge about Creative Sustainability principles and policies, and concepts and use cases in the context of SDGs (with a focus on European Union).
• Identify and assess challenges and opportunities when designing Sustainability policies and action plans.
• Critically assess how Creative Sustainability can support individual fulfilment and development (at work and at personal level), business and organisational models and regional development; and assess its role in creating policies, value chains, products and services fully sustainable.

Schedule, Content and Time Commitment

The course is designed over ‘4 Steps/Weeks’, and each step/week consists of a series of Learning Activities in 4 different, but connected, themes regarding Creative Sustainability. However the course is self-paced, so you can manage your own learning journey.

The Learning Activities consist of 4 Steps/Weeks, which are presented as a variety of videos, podcasts, articles, reports, interactive tools and quizzes that reflect the learning topic for the different steps.

Course Curriculum

• Step/Week 1: What is Creative Sustainability?
• Step/Week 2. Nature, Creativity and the Creative Process
• Step/Week 3. Creative Sustainability for Resilient and Dynamic Ecosystems
• Step/Week 4. Creative Sustainability for systems thinking and transformation

Expert Lab Credits

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria / Course concept and learning design / Course content creation and management / Instructor

Justyna Molendowska-Ruiz / Course content contributor / Marketing, dissemination and engagement.

At a glance:

Self-paced Expert Lab composed of 4 Steps/Weeks, structured in 4 themes interconnected about Creative Sustainability, with practical learning activities.

For Whom

Professionals (and anyone interested), whether form public or private sector (corporations, policy makers, entrepreneurs, startups, NGOs, CSO, etc.).

Where / When

Teachable platform / Learn from anywhere, at anytime, at your own pace.

Credits

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria

Justyna Molendowska-Ruiz

We design unique learning experiences

Whether you need organisational learning solutions, design (digital) learning experiences or unlock your team creativity, we are ready to help you!

Know more

Mapping Creativity in the EU – Competition Policy

CLIENT: CEES, Doctorate in Economic, Business and Social Sciences of the University of Seville, Spain

Delivered:

Digitally, Conference in Spanish (Blackboard Collaborate)

Project: 

Keynote Mapping Creativity in the European Union: the role of Human Development, Digitization and Sustainability with focus on the vector creativity and competition frameworks in the platform economy.

Related link

---

Watch video of the presentation by Antonio Carlos (in Spanish, 32 min.)

---

PROJECT SCOPE AND OUTCOME

Antonio Carlos, director Economía Creativa, presented its research publication Mapping Creativity in the European Union: the role of Human Development, Digitization and Sustainability at the Seminar of the Chair of Competition Policy and the Research Group of Economic Analysis and Political Economy (SEJ-359) of the University of Seville, Spain.

The Seminars, coordinated by Prof. Luis Palma, aimed to analyze competition policy across different industries with emphasis in professional services and creative sectors.

Antonio Carlos, drawing upon its research Mapping Creativity, focused its presentation in analyzing the current dynamic of the platform economy and its implications into the optimal supply of creativity and creative talent for business and organizations and the economy. He showcased how the value is co-created by multiple actors (platforms, creative citizens and businesses, public institutions) that are part of creative societies. However, the value is (mainly) captured by the platform providers. To correct this asymmetry in the market, he proposed a reconfiguration of the value capture through a combination of competition policy (regulatory frameworks), intellectual property rights and a holistic system approach focusing on economic opportunity, continuous learning, equality, dynamizing labour market and tax systems to nurture and empower people of all backgrounds creativity and creative talent in the creative societies.

---

RESOURCES

Presentation (in Spanish)Download

Event programmeDownload

---

Relevant services and publications

Research and Strategy for Global Impact

#MappingCreativity

Discover how EC can help you

get in touch

Creativity and continuous learning WCD2021

Client: WORLD CREATIVITY DAY, WCD, 2021 EDITION, PORTUGAL

DELIVERED:

Digitally

PROJECT:

Inspirational speech ‘Creativity and continuous learning‘ by Antonio Carlos

---

WATCH THE INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH (6 MIN.)

---

PROJECT SCOPE AND OUTCOME

Antonio Carlos provided the inspirational speech on Creativity and Continuous Learning for personal and organizational leadership at the WCD2021 in Matosinhos, Portugal.

The key to creativity is continuous learning

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria

The key to creativity is continuous learning. This inspirational speech provided key steps to activate critical thinking and learning, and unlock creativity for problem solving, sustainable leadership and social influence for both individuals and organizations.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER / INSPIRER

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria. Creativity expert, creative thinker and speaker helping people, buisinesses and organizations unlock creativity for sustainable leadership. Founder & Director Economia Creativa. Author of Mapping Craetivity in the European Union.

---

Relevant services and publications

Research and Strategy for Global Impact

#MappingCreativity

Discover how EC can help you

get in touch

Protected: Applying Creativity to Urban Farming Business Models and Innovative Funding

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Antonio Carlos interviewed by Creative Europe – Germany

We are very happy to share the interview with Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria, Economía Creativa director, by Creative Europe Desk – Germany in the series #CultureBeyondCovid. The interview focused on Economía Creativa‘s trajectory, the impact of Covid in Cultural and Creative Sectors and visions to the future based on Antonio Carlos‘ latest research Mapping Creativity in the European Union.

“Technology is a must nowadays but what really makes the difference is creativity”

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria

Watch the interiew here:

#CultureBeyondCovid​​​ looks ahead to the European cultural landscapes of tomorrow. Being highly affected by the ongoing pandemic, the cultural and creative sectors are in need of further support and have once again proven to be crucial for overcoming Europe’s current societal challenges. Given that the new longterm budget and programme cycle is still under negotiations, #CultureBeyondCovid​​​ sheds light on the future EU funding for culture and navigates through prospective funding possibilities beyond Creative Europe. At the same time, this web series invites cultural and creative professionals to share their work experiences in times of Covid-19 and to talk about their ideas and visions regarding #CultureBeyondCovid​​​. Until the end of 2020 two videos per week will be published, alternating the insights into the future funding programmes and voices from the sectors. #CultureBeyondCovid​​​ is hosted by the German Creative Europe Desk Kultur and funded by the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media

Protected: Financial Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Protected: Transforming a CSO’s Annual Assembly into a fully-digital event

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

MIT Mentor and subject expert: data, research and e-learning

CLIENT: MIT Innovation Initiative, USA

Delivered: Digitally (SLACK).

Project: Mentorship / Subject Matter Expert: Research, Data and eLearning

---

Project scope and outcome

The MIT EMBA IDEA Week 2020 took place in a hybrid format between September 22-25 is a hackathon organized by the MIT Innovation Initiative a data-obsessed MIT-ers tasked to develop and strengthen the innovation & entrepreneurial community at MIT…and beyond. With more than 500 participants, the hackathon aimed to design innovative solutions to global challenges and, in particular, to the disruption due to the pandemic, across sectors (digital therapeutics, agri-businesses, energy, transport) and geographies (at global level).

Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria provided mentorship and support as subject matter expert on research, data and e-learning at the MIT EMBA IDEA WEEK 2020. He helped participants in need for tools and business modelling advice in sectors such as creative industries, digital therapeutics and green/agri businesses.

---

Relevant services

Digital Transformation

Research and Strategy for Global Impact

Discover how EC can help you

get in touch

Protected: Museums as Creativity catalysts in the New Reality

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Expert contribution to EU Com Structured Dialogue on Gender Balance

How to tackle gender balance in Creative and Cultural Sectors?

Justyna contributed as expert, representing Economía Creativa, to the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue Between the EU Commission and the Culture Sector, together with 35 experts from across Europe to Brainstorm policies and practices for gender equality.

I want to see in the world women and men sharing power equally, free from damaging stereotypes, where women are empowered, independent and creative

Justyna Molednowska-Ruiz, Economía Creativa

Justyna had the pleasure to contribute as expert representing Economía Creativa at the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue Meetings between the European Commission and the Cultural Sector on the topic Gender Equality: Gender balance in the Culture and Creative Sectors (CCS), joining a wonderful panel of experts composed by 35 representatives of public institutions, cultural organizations, businesses, academia, networks and NGOs from across Europe.

Women, despite the economically and technologically developed times we’re living, are still underrepresented in the workforce, leadership and decision-making positions in CCS; they are also paid less than their male colleagues, and facing many challenges they should not be existing by now. The consequences of women inequality are negative not just for women themselves but for the whole society. The need to address these facts and come up with clear policy recommendations and actions proved that VoC focus this year on Gender Balance is necessary and timely.

The Structured Dialogue Meetings between the European Commission and the Cultural Sector on the topic Gender Equality: Gender balance in the CCs’ took the form in two sessions. First in Prague (Czech Republic), and later in Brussels (Belgium).

The first meeting of VoC –brainstorming session– took place in Goethe Institute in Prague on 4th-5th September 2019. During the first meeting, experts worked in four groups on different aspects and topics such as: role of public authorities, legislation, role of sectoral initiatives, measures to promote equality, education and training, gender stereotypes, representation and role models to provide recommendations for the Brainstorming report.

The second VoC Dialogue Meeting took place at the Flagey in Brussels on the 6th November. It brought together again representatives from the 35 selected organizations for the VoC from several EU Member States, representatives from the European Commission and members of the Gender Equality group representing the EU Member States (OMC group). After very fruitful and constructive discussions, members of the writers and editorial team presented the Brainstorming report ‘Gender equality: gender balance in the CCS.’ Expanding on the narrative of discussions during the brainstorming meeting and giving context to the four topical groups:

Justyna, Communication & Research Leader in EC (second left) in the expert group on Education & training for Gender Balance – VoC Meeting in Prague

• Education and Training: Gender Stereotypes, Representation, and Role Models (in which Economía Creativa provided input drawing on our expertise on women empowerment and capacity building for entrepreneurship).
• Systemic Discrimination Demands Systemic Change
• End Sexual Violence
• Equal Access for Women to the Labour Market and Leadership Positions

Followed by discussions and recommendations on gender equality from EU representatives, members of the OMC groups, and the experts, the meeting came to an end; however it was continued as a less formal networking chat over the topic at a reception at the Flagey.

Justyna during the VoC Meetings

Economia Creativa contributed to VoC Meeting on Gender Balance sharing our expertise on training and capacity building on key areas for women empowerment such as creative confidence, entrepreneurial skills and business modelling, communication and storytelling, innovative funding and leadership; we also disseminate the outputs of the meeting as well as tools and resources for women empowerment.

We summarized Economía Creativa‘s takeaways from the VoC Daialogue Meeting with the European Commission and the Cultural Sector, on Gender Equality, in 10 points:

1. Gender requires a global approach and concrete actions for and by women.
2. Awareness raising stereotype-free about women leadership
3. Fund mentorship and capacity building for women on Culture and Creative Sectors, including training the trainers.
4. Enable structures for protecting people against sexual violence. Create points of contact for confidential reporting.
5. Make a binding obligation for all recipients of EU funding to have an anti-harassment policy.
6. Bring overall legislation on gender equality to the highest level existing in the EU.
7. More comprehensive gender statistics is needed, including making data on pay scales available, transparent and comparable.
8. Enforce 50-50 rule in the distribution of public resources.
9. In education, introduce a 50/50 rule on role models.
10. From STEM to STEAM, harness creativity (including creative hubs) so everyone can reach their full potential and feel fulfilled.

Economia Creativa strongly believes that the time is NOW to take action on Gender Equality to shaping an inclusive and creative society.

We would like to thank to Voices of Culture for this great opportunity to participate and contribute to such wonderful and important meeting.

Resources

• Download here the Brainstorming Report on ‘Gender Equality: Gender Balance in the Cultural and Creative Sectors‘.

Client:

Voices of Culture, European Commission.

Delivered

Meetings in Prague, Czech Republic, and Brussels, Belgium

+ Digitally

Services

Sharing our expertise on

→ capacity building, training and mentoring women entrepreneurs

→ research and best practices of policies and business practices for women empowerment.

Credits

Justyna Molendowska-Ruiz contributing expert representing Economía Creativa

+ Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria, Economía Creativa (internal coordination).

+ 35 representatives of public institutions, cultural organizations, businesses, academia, networks and NGOs from across Europe

+ EU Commission.

---

Relevant services and publications

Research and Strategy for Global Impact

Women Empowerment for Creative Leadership

Like what you read?

get in touch