Developed by Claire Wastell, an alumna of the MSc in Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities programme, the Creative Revolution Framework demonstrates how creative approaches in public sector processes foster long-term, citizen- and value-centric innovation.
Drawing inspiration from the CreaTures Framework
Last year, Claire was part of the MSc in Urban Governance for Inclusive Sustainable Cities programme, a programme offered in collaboration between IHS and the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). She conducted her Master's thesis research with the Municipality of Rotterdam, for which she created the framework highlighting the power of creative thinking as a driver for systemic change in meaning, connections, and power.
The Creative Revolution Framework is grounded in the nine dimensions of the CreaTures Framework's "Creative Approach." It emphasises the use of creativity to enable systemic change, particularly in public sector contexts. By incorporating creative dimensions, the framework promotes community value, builds networks, and advocates for interactive, care-based governance that challenges conventional systems.
Empowering public sector innovation
The framework supports public sector workers in:
- Developing and legitimising innovative projects.
- Demonstrating the value of creative approaches in government contexts.
- Measuring the impact of these initiatives in non-traditional ways.
This agile and experimental approach has proven particularly useful for addressing urgent global challenges such as climate adaptation. It enables government actors to engage in experimental projects, foster trust, and implement demonstration initiatives that reflect the principles of care and circularity.
From theory to practice
The Municipality of Rotterdam has embraced the Creative Revolution Framework to build new connections across departments and strengthen relationships with creative professionals, such as performing and visual artists.
In a workshop inspired by the framework, government workers were encouraged to apply the principles of creative thinking to their own work. This resulted in a community project focused on circularity and responsive thinking. The project shifts the focus from predefined outputs to creating new meaning, connections, and balanced power dynamics within the community.
The Creative Revolution Framework has also facilitated international collaboration. Knowledge-sharing sessions have connected the Municipality of Rotterdam with governments in New South Wales, Australia, fostering a global dialogue on creative governance practices.
Recognition at academic conferences
The framework has gained academic recognition and will be featured at the 2025 Netherlands Institute of Government (NIG) conference. The discussion will explore the potential and limitations of involving artists in governance processes, further highlighting the framework's relevance in advancing creative, citizen-focused governance.
This innovative work demonstrates how students of the Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities drive forward-thinking approaches that have a tangible impact on governments worldwide.
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