A global celebration of creativity for the common good

Once again, the RSA has partnered with 92Y as part of 7 Days of Genius (March 4-11, 2018), a global celebration of creativity for the common good. This year, best selling author Daniel Coyle shares The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups in a public event, our RSA Connector in Slovakia hosts a collaborative drawing session, and Fellows in Australia and New Zealand respond to a blogging challenge.

For the past two years, the RSA has collaborated with New York-based 92Y (the renowned cultural centre and founder of global movement #givingtuesday) on the Seven Days of Genius Festival. In the past we have hosted a public event here at the RSA with world renowned speakers such as Adam Grant and Rutger Bregman. Fellows have also participated: Alex, our RSA Connector in Poland, coordinated events focusing on women's issues and inspirational individuals. 

This year the festival takes place from 4^th March – 11th March with the theme of “Creativity for the Common Good.” Take a look at the various ways in which the RSA and its Fellows have become inspired by and contributed to the movement this year:

The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups

What do Pixar, Google and the San Antonio Spurs basketball team have in common?

They all owe their extraordinary success to their team-building skills.

Daniel Coyle, New York Times bestselling author of The Talent Code, visits the RSA after going inside some of the most effective organisations in the world. He not only explains what makes such groups tick, but also identifies the key factors that can generate team cohesion in any walk of life.

He examines the verbal and physical cues that bring people together, and determines specific strategies that encourage collaboration and build trust.

And he offers cautionary tales of toxic cultures and advises how to reform them, above all demonstrating the extraordinary achievements that result when we know how to cooperate effectively.

Collaborative drawing in Slovakia

Inspired by the festival, RSA Connector,  Petra Stefankova held a collaborative drawing session on Tuesday 6th March at József Szinnyei Library in Komarno (Slovakia). Petra is an award winning illustrator, graphic designer and visual artist and is pleased to use this year’s festival theme “Creativity for the Common Good” as a platform to teach children how to collaborate through drawing. She shares her experience in the following blog:

Collborative drawing in Slovakia - Petra Štefanková

RSA ANZ Blogging Challenge

Fellows in Australia and New Zealand have used the Seven Days of Genius Festival as a catalyst to stimulate discussion within the Fellowship community. Each day throughout the Festival week, Fellows have published an article associated with a new theme and discussion has followed on the RSA ANZ LinkedIn Group. Read the blogs here:

Have our elected representatives lost their political licence to operate? - Paul Vittels FRSA

Co-desigining healthy bodies and places requires a lifecourse approach - Scott Philips FRSA

Citizen engagement: straddling past and present to enact social progress - Jayne Tucker FRSA

Give me a break: how to combat giving fatigue - Marion Lawie FRSA

How can entrepreneurs improve quality of life around the world? - Abby Robinson FRSA

Leaning to think as a species - Julian Crib FRSA