The Creative Partnerships project aims to foster creativity in Lithuanian schools through collaboration between schools, creative professionals, and regional partners. Over three school years, the project involved about 200 creators, more than 100 schools, 1000 teachers, and 4000 students. The project creates a space for teachers and students to explore new approaches to learning, with a focus on developing creativity, creative skills, and a creative mindset. Through activities led by creative professionals, the goal is for creativity to become an everyday practice in schools.

1. The Creative Partnerships:
we create space for change

2. • Aimed at all schools of general education of Lithuania,
students under 18 years of age.
• Carried out by EDC, financed from the funds of ESF and MES
(4,64 million Euro).
• Implemented by the project team in cooperation with 9
regional partners.
• Duration of the project is 3 school years - from 2011 to 2015.
• About 200 creators, more than 100 schools, 1000 teachers,
and 4000 students participate in the project.
The Creative Partnerships
– a project on a national scale

3. The Scope
• This year 80 schools participate in the
programme: 50 in Enquiry School and
30 in Change School programmes
• In 2013-2014 school year – 97
schools
• A total during the three school years
– more than 120 schools

4. What is the aim of Creative Partnerships?
We create space for change
Objectives
• To foster the creativity of learners and teachers
• To develop creative work skills of teachers
• To develop a creative approach to learning in Lithuanian
schools – how to study?
• A space to explore, experiment and rethink is created
• People draw on each other’s experience
• A system encouraging to improve and learn in own
workplace is applied

5. “In previously conducted survey students claimed that only an actor, poet or painter can
be creative, whereas now such words as considerate, evaluating everything to the last
detail, willing to learn and teach, apt at organizing, patient, courageous, self-contained,
discovering, sociable, active, intelligent, alert, attempting, fantasizing, appeared in the
perceptual map”.
School coordinator
Changing
concepts

6. Creativity is a universal and
learnable skill
• Creativity is the ability to doubt, question, think
critically, discover links, solve problems by
creating innovation, work persistently in order
to achieve the goal set; this is a universal
ability.
• Not only the arts, but also
sciences, politics, business, as well as human
relationships and lives are based on creativity.

7. The Creative Partnerships approach to
creativity – five habits of mind
IMAGINATION CURIOSITY PERSISTENCE CONSISTENT
PRACTICE
COOPERATION
Is based on the
intuition,
connects
different areas
Wonders, asks
and explores,
questions the
conventional
assumptions
and norms
Tolerates the
state of
uncertainty,
acknowledges
difficulties as
part of work,
dares to be
different.
Acts practically,
tries to improve,
constantly works
on improving
technical skills,
critically assesses
and reflects.
Is able to work
with others, gives
and accepts
feedback, respects
the opinion of
others, shares
ideas and other
“products”.
Creativity-based learning is active, experiential, reflective, leading to
essential changes in understanding, skills and attitudes.
Creativity is recognized through specific ways of acting and
practices continuously applied in everyday life, thus creativity can
be developed.

8. Looking for practical
solutions to overcome
specific challenges of
schools
“It is very useful when people not related to school come for a visit… Teachers say that they
really need such an inspiration.”
School principal

9. Teacher’s role and involvement
is crucially important
“I can no longer work as I used to, I
want to share, I want to do, I want to
act.” School Coordinator
“ Having tried out certain
activities, most sixth-graders found out
what they want, what they like, they
became interested in school in a
different sense – it appears that here it
is possible not only to meet friends, but
also to do interesting things. ”
School Coordinator

10. Artists, scientists, professionals in their
field of practice go to schools and
experiment as well as solve actual
problems together with teachers.

11. “Creative Agent asked me a lot of questions about how I work with children, what methods I
use, what literature I read, etc. I was working, looking for answers, thought a lot and came to
a stage where I started to doubt whether I can be a teacher altogether”…
School Coordinator
Working under
uncertainty
conditions

12. What type of school do we need ?
Aim of
Creative
Partnerships

13. Creative Partnerships change learning space
Low Engagement High Engagement

14. CSDM CSDMPlanning Implementation
Evaluation +
sustainability
• Leadership
• Curriculum development
and implementation
• Teaching and learning
• Employee learning and
development
• School environment and
resources
A space is created for teachers to test new
models of behavior right in their workplace
Curriculum
content
Challenge/
problem
Creative
process Creative
skills

15. Planning and assessment tools
Work of creative
professionals
Quality ensurance
This process is ensured through:

16. Model for working
with school
challenges
External
resources
ensurance of
the process
All learning
Learners
Creative learning
– opportunities for
school as an organization
and community
Teachers and learners together
with creative professionals
plan creative activities, which
help to involve and
engage, make students
responsible for their
leaning, instills tolerance and
trust, brings together the
school community.

17. “The project helped to understand what real leadership is, when all group
members are included instead of an entire task being performed by one person.”
School Coordinator
Only some are involved –
everybody is involved
Involvement of learners

18. Schools are proud and want to share

19. Overview of the first project year
• 1100 students participated in 43 “Enquiry
Schools”.
• 269 subject teachers, 150 school personnel
employees and more than 1000
participants.
• 257 parents and other family members
participated in sessions together with
children.
• A total of 3000 persons participated in the
project or otherwise contributed to it.
• Creative professionals spent with children
more than 2000 hours.

20. The Second project year
In 2012- 2013 school year:
• More than 3300 students participate in Creative
partnerships
• About 800 teachers participate in the programme for
improving competences of the management of
creativity education and creative learning projects

21. What shall we do for creativity
to become everyday‘s school
practice?

22. Creative
Ppartnerships -
A gift to each other

23. That was a break through
of all of us...