HONORING SIR KEN ROBINSON: A LEGACY OF CREATIVITY THAT LIVES ON AT 1515 LINCOLN GALLERY

By Susan McCalmonT

March 4th marks the birthday of Sir Ken Robinson, the internationally respected creativity advocate, author and speaker. Knighted in 2003 for his services to the arts, his work transformed how the world understands creativity in education.

Born in Liverpool in 1950, Sir Ken was a professor of arts education at the University of Warwick who dedicated his life to challenging educational systems to recognize that creativity is as vital as literacy. He became known internationally for delivering one of the most viewed TED Talks in history, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”, and for his best-selling book The Element.

Though Sir Ken passed away in 2020, his ideas and legacy continue to shape classrooms and communities across the world. For many, he was a visionary. But to me, he was also a dear friend and mentor. Each year on his birthday, I take time to reflect not only on the scale of his global influence, but on the personal impact his work has had on my own life and the creative space we’ve grown at 1515 Lincoln Gallery. Given the current state of the world, Sir Ken’s belief in the power of creativity feels more relevant and necessary than ever before.

The Talk That Changed My Life

I first became aware of Sir Ken when I was working as the director of a philanthropic foundation dedicated to advancing arts education in Oklahoma. At the time, he had not been knighted, but his work as a university professor was already reshaping educational thinking in Great Britain.

He had recently been commissioned by Prime Minister Tony Blair to explore how to promote creativity in British schools. Sir Ken put together a group of experts in various fields, including scientists, mathematicians, and artists, to help identify commonalities across the disciplines. The findings led to the ground-breaking report All Our Futures, which argued that creativity should be at the heart of education for every child.  

We invited Sir Ken to Oklahoma to speak at a conference on the impact of arts education on the brain and learning. It ended up being one of his first visits to the United States to discuss All Our Futures and the importance of creativity.

That one-hour talked ended up changing my life as well as the future of my arts education advocacy work. Before hearing Sir Ken speak, I had always felt conflicted about having to choose between my love for music, art, and science. But he was able to articulate something I’d never considered: creativity can exist in any field, not just the fine arts. We’re all born with the capacity for imagination and creativity.  It’s the thread that ties all our talents and interests together.

The role of education is to nurture our creativity, not standardize it out of us. This idea unlocked something in me and captured a sentiment I had long felt intuitively but struggled to put into words.

Research Shows Creativity Is Vital

Sir Ken’s belief that creativity is as vital as literacy is consistently reinforced by research. He defined creativity as the “generation of ideas that have value.” Studies have found that students engaged in creative endeavors show stronger problem-solving skills, higher levels of empathy, and increased academic performance. Similarly, research on workplace innovation reveals creative thinking is one of the most sought-after skills in the current job market.

By contrast, environments that suppress curiosity or discourage questioning lead to disengagement. We all know what it feels like to be in a space where new ideas are met with resistance, or imagination feels unwelcome. But spaces that nurture creativity have an unmistakeable energy. There’s vitality in environments where people are invited to ask questions, explore ideas, and connect with the world around them. 

Bringing Sir Ken’s Vision Home

I worked to advance arts education and creativity across commerce, culture, and education for nearly three decades. I took a step back when my husband became ill, but I still felt the need for something tangible, a space for connection and creativity. I realized I needed to shift from a macro view of societal change to a micro view of what I could achieve in my own neighborhood.

Though I can’t recall a specific conversation with Sir Ken that led to the creation of 1515 LG – having a gallery wasn’t even on my mind at the time – his philosophy became the foundation. After years of advocating for the importance of creativity, it felt like a natural progression to create a space dedicated to artistic appreciation and dialogue. Sir Ken had also connected many of us leading the creativity movement charge around the world. We realized the power of our human creative connections and I felt strongly about keeping these connections alive through 1515.

1515 became a way of embodying those ideals in a community setting. Today, it’s a space where culinary, musical, literary, and visual creativity can intersect and where people from all walks of like can gather for shared experience.

Sir Ken’s influence extended beyond my professional life and into my family. My son grew up surrounded by people from around the world united by a shared commitment to creativity. Seeing their lifelong curiosity and love of learning shaped him. He was encouraged to explore his musical talents and interests, and perhaps more importantly, to love the pursuit itself. Being immersed in an environment where creativity was valued gave him confidence and reaction that continued to shape his approach to life. 

When young people are encouraged to develop their talents and passions, they begin to see themselves not only as students fulfilling requirements, but as individuals with purpose. To me, this is the most profound impact of Sir Ken’s work.

Why Creativity Matters More Than Ever  

Every person is created with unique talents and purpose. I believe life is a journey of discovering those gifts and finding a meaningful way to contribute to the world.

Not all environments feel safe for exploration and imaginations, especially educational systems that are increasingly constrained. That’s why non-profit and community spaces remain essential. In divided and uncertain times, creativity can provide common ground.

Sir Ken’s voice continues to reach millions through his TED Talks and books. I encourage you to reflect on how his ideas can shape your own environment. Even more, I invite you to consider how to cultivate creativity wherever you are. Sir Ken’s legacy lives not only in his publications and speeches, but in the spaces we create for each other.

Shared creative experiences have the power to bring people from all backgrounds together, reminding us of our shared humanity, and I hope 1515 continues to be one of those places for you.