5 - 7 September

Hosted by ITAC’s New Zealand Hub: the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST) at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland.

We’re counting down to the next Squiggla Making Space at the 7th biennial International Teaching Artists Conference (ITAC 7). The conference will be hosted by ITAC’s New Zealand Hub: the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST) at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland from 5 - 7 September. There’s a packed programme of wonderful presenters, including our very own Sue Gardiner, who will be speaking about the Squiggla Programme on the first day of the conference.

Aligning with key concepts that will be explored in the conference, the Squiggla Making Space will focus on the creative power of imagination. To realise new ideas, you first need to imagine. In the creative process we experience imagining and re-imagining ways of doing things, learning and unlearning. We will be exercising imaginative ideas, making interesting connections between things, taking risks, challenging the way things are normally done, and working collaboratively to glean new perspectives.

“Mark making directly exercises the imagination. Its use is the essence of ideation. Recognising and valuing imagining skills energises drawing practice and expands creative thinking potential. The intuitive engages the resources of the imagination in mark making, before secondary closure processes operate, and meanings are attached: as in language. The imagination never sleeps. It operates in subconscious, conscious and dream states and willingly operates with reason when awake. Repetitive drawing practice, used as a means of activating the energies of the imagination, deepens potential for production of original ideas in all domains… Creativity precedes innovation.”
- Rob Gardiner, Founder of Squiggla

ITAC 7 is a Chartwell Trust 50th Anniversary Project - strengthening the visual arts for us all.

CAST is supported by the Chartwell Charitable Trust - fostering research into the impact of creative thinking.