DAY I

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
All events on October 6 take place on the Wesleyan campus

6:30 p.m.

RECEPTION

8 p.m.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS - HOWARD GARDNER P'91, P'98

Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and holds positions as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine, and Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero.

DAY II

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
All events on October 7 take place at the Wesleyan campus or at the Inn at Middletown.

7:30 a.m.

BREAKFAST AVAILABLE

8:45 a.m.

WELCOME

Shasha Seminar Facilitator: Julie A. Burstein '80, Executive Producer of Studio 360, WNYC Radio

9 a.m.

SESSION I: CREATIVITY AS COLLABORATION: THE ARTIST IN CONTEXT

We are still enveloped by a romantic notion of creativity as residing solely within the artist as a mystical spark of genius. Yet throughout history artists have been directed by outside forces to produce works on demand as religious, political, or personal propaganda. Where is the creativity in this process of exchange between artist and patron? One could argue that even today artistic endeavor is driven by socio-political and economic forces where galleries and granting agencies have taken the role traditionally held by earlier private or corporate patrons. What happens to our notions of creativity if we adopt a model of exchange and process between artists and the contexts in which they work? Can we say that museums, in decontextualizing works of art (if such a term is even possible to use) falsify the very notion of creativity? And does teaching "art" only serve to undermine whatever remnants of creativity exist in our world?

Presenter: John T. Paoletti, The William R. Kenan Professor of the Humanities, and Professor of Art History, Wesleyan University

10:30 a.m.

BREAK

11 a.m.

SESSION II: SCIENTIFIC GENIUS AND CREATIVITY: WHAT'S SEX GOT TO DO WITH IT?

The recent remarks of Harvard University President Larry Sommers, that innate differences between the sexes might help explain why relatively few women become professional scientists or engineers, have added to ongoing debates about the biological differences between female and male brains. Does the professional gap in the sciences have anything to do with creativity and differences in the brains of men and women? To address this question, we will examine known structural differences between the female and male brain, how early experiences, such as playing music, alter the brain and enhance mathematical skills, and how other structural differences in the developing brain are sculpted through genetic programs, hormones, and environmental signals. Insights and examples will also be drawn from studies of how neurological disorders alter creative abilities and what happens during so-called "Eureka moments" in the process of scientific discovery.

Presenter: Janice R. Naegele, Associate Professor, Neuroscience and Behavior, Wesleyan University

12:30 p.m.

LUNCH

1:30 p.m.

SESSION III: THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO CHANGE LIVES

Where is creativity found? Who is creative? Work in low-income communities and schools across the country demonstrates that creativity is a renewable resource to be found everywhere, and that the arts are a powerful means and media for social change, development, and learning. How and why do the arts have such power? We will discuss the work of artists in a variety of environments and consider how policy can best support their efforts.

Presenter: Nick Rabkin P '08, Executive Director, Center for Arts Policy, Columbia College Chicago; Ricardo Morris, Director, Green Street Arts Center, Middletown

3 p.m.

BREAK

3:30 p.m.

SESSION IV: EXPLORING THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Attendees may choose to participate in one of the following workshops: Javanese Gamelan, African Drumming, Basic Drawing, Writing, or a Behavioral Study of Human Speech and Birdsong

Presenters: Abraham C. Adzenyah, M.A.'79, Adjunct Professor of Music, Wesleyan University; John T. Frazer, Professor of Art, Emeritus, Wesleyan University; Anne Greene, Director of Writing Programs and Adjunct Professor of English, Wesleyan University; John Kirn, Associate Professor of Biology and Chair, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Wesleyan University; Sumarsam, M.A. '76, Chair and Adjunct Professor of Music, Wesleyan University

5 p.m.

BREAK

6:30 p.m.

RECEPTION AND DINNER

8:30 p.m.

FILM SCREENING: IL GIORNO IN CUI NIENTE SUCCESSE (THE DAY NOTHING HAPPENED)

Followed by discussion with the producer/director, Ramon Alos Sanchez, graduate student, Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Rome, Italy

Day III

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

8 a.m.

BREAKFAST AVAILABLE

8:45 a.m.

SESSION V: CREATIVITY IN THE WORKLPLACE: TRANSFORMING ORGANIZATIONS WITH IDEAS FROM THE FRONT LINES

Front-line workers see a great many problems and opportunities that management does not. Their ideas are a tremendous resource that most organizations squander. Some organizations routinely get and use extraordinary numbers of ideas--in some cases more than a hundred per person per year. This session will show you how they do it. Not only do these organizations perform at far higher levels than their competitors, but they are also much happier and more rewarding places to work.

Presenter: Alan G. Robinson, Professor, Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

10 a.m.

BREAK

10:15 a.m.

SESSION VI: BREAKING RULES, MAKING RULES

Liz Lerman, choreographer and 2002 MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Grant") recipient, will investigate the theory and practice of making art that crosses boundaries between concert and community. In Breaking Rules, Making Rules, she will draw on literature, personal experience, philosophy, and the political and social commentary in her choreography. This interactive session involves dialogue, dance, and movement.

Presenter: Liz Lerman, Founding Artistic Director, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange

12 p.m.

BREAK

12:30 p.m.

LUNCH AND WRAP-UP SESSION