Arts education: Building a future through creativity
Wayne is the Creative Director of The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery, a contemporary online art gallery and academy. The gallery was launched in 2023 with fellow Co-founder and Curator, Katherine. Here, Wayne, draws on his own creative pathway, to illustrate and advocate for the importance of community, the transformative power of education, creativity and the arts.
Creativity has always been integral to my life. Though, its significance became clearer over time.
As a child, I was naturally drawn to creative pursuits, but it was an art workshop on my new build estate — assembled on the grounds of an old hospital in Islington —that first revealed creativity's full potential. The pieces that the other children and I created 30 years ago, are still on display to this day on that same estate. We were made sculptors before some of us had even started secondary school. From then on, art wasn’t just an activity; it was a way to unlock aspects of myself that I hadn’t fully understood. Although the workshop was short-lived, its impact remained, demonstrating that art could be a tool for reflection, expression, and transformation.
Since then, the Borough of Islington to me has always seem to be a place where creative exploration feels limitless. Home to a number of my creative ‘firsts’, I began to understand how the arts could help me navigate the world, as the textures, sounds, people, and colours became a language through which I could articulate my own thoughts and emotions. That early experience set me on a path towards recognising that creativity could be more than just a pastime; it was a means of discovering who I was and how I wanted to engage with the world.
The Conflicts
Despite my passion for all forms of artistry, the journey has not been without challenges. Internally, I have often wrestled with self-doubt, questioning whether my work was good enough, or if a career in the arts was even realistic — a struggle that persists today. Externally, there was the pressure to pursue a more conventional academic route, one that offered stability and predictability.
My experience with dyslexia compounded these difficulties. For years, I couldn’t fully understand why traditional learning and working environments felt so restrictive. Engaging with the arts provided an alternative way to process information and express myself. Creativity created a space where I was not bound by just the written language. Art became a means to make sense of dyslexia and the unique perspective it afforded.
With the discovery of other neurodiversities, the arts installed and taught me resilience. Like most types of therapy, creativity demands patience and persistence, especially in the face of uncertainty or failure. For every successful piece conceived, there were many that didn’t meet my expectations. Rather than seeing these as setbacks, I learned to treat them as opportunities for growth. Each attempt was an essential part of the journey, with the arts playing the crucial role in helping me adopt this mindset.
The Power of Music
Music has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my life. I recall an interview with American artist Dash Snow, who was asked what he believed in, to which he replied, 'Music… Music keeps me here.' I felt the same way. Music has become my baseline, my lifeline, the art form of choice to which I return to time, time and again. It seems that everything I do now is linked back to music in some colourful form.
Growing up, music was central to our home, thanks to 'the house’s DJ' – my mum –who played a diverse range of records, exploring stations across the FM and AM dials. This early exposure shaped my understanding of creativity, with music becoming an emotional outlet and a way to express myself beyond words.
One of the most influential artists for me has been the producer J Dilla, especially his album ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’. His ability to blend familiar sounds with unexpected rhythms mirrored my own exploration of creativity. Music, like all forms of art, allowed me to explore and express ideas in ways that felt natural, timeless, and authentic. It was not merely something I enjoyed; it became the tool me for connecting with the world around me.
Empowering Others
The influence of others – whether through mentorship or collaboration – has been invaluable on my journey. My time with the Chickenshed Theatre was particularly transformative, as it reemphasised the idea that art could be inclusive and collaborative. Working alongside others in such an environment helped me understand that creativity is not something we just need to practise in isolation. Collaboration itself became a form of learning, being part of creative communities and working with other artists pushed boundaries.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey has been the opportunity to work with young people. While working alongside a tutor as a senior youth worker in projects like 'In Touch’ at Hanley Crouch Community Association (now called Brickworks Community Centre), the project was aimed at helping young people from the local area at risk of exclusion to re-engage positively with education, training, or employment. It was another chance to witness the transformative power of creativity first-hand.
A particularly memorable experience was a trip to the Science Museum in London with one of the students. The day was designed to bring a previous lesson to life, with the student using my DSLR camera to capture whatever caught their eye. Neither the tutor nor I were scientists, so every subject was open to discussion, leading to some of the best conversations we had with that young person. It was remarkable to see how the museum's vastness enabled them to think differently, instilling the confidence to articulate ideas that had previously been difficult to express in more familiar surroundings. Experiences like these reaffirmed the importance of helping young people finding their voice through creative means.
In a poetry and film workshop I developed for film students at Barking & Dagenham College, the focus was on demonstrating that an idea could come to life with minimal resources. Armed with a few of my poems with no context, and their mobile phones, the students were tasked with directing a short film based on their interpretation of the poem. I wanted them to encourage them to break free from the notion that there is a 'right' or 'wrong' way to create, creativity is about exploration and experimentation. The confidence gained from engaging in these types of workshops is something I have observed time and time again.
A Future Shaped by Creativity
These examples illustrate how transformative my informal and formal arts education has been. Creativity too, it's essential for individual growth, as well as encouraging innovation and empathy across communities. Creativity teaches us to think critically, solve problems, and engage with the world in meaningful ways.
Consider the impact of the UK's cultural institutions, like Tate Britain, the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and even your local libraries. They’re not just about showcasing art, putting on performances, or lending books; they actively shape how we perceive identity, heritage, and social issues. The innovative exhibitions, productions, and community programmes they create challenge our thinking, push boundaries, and inspire change. This isn't just about the arts existing in a bubble – it’s about how creativity feeds into every aspect of our society, from education to social progress, and even influencing policy. Without a foundation in the arts, transformative thinking and cultural evolution simply wouldn’t happen.
The significance of such education is beyond developing a young person’s creativity; it cultivates, as it did for me, a foundation for lifelong growth. This should never be left to a later in life office away day or team building session.
Engaging with the arts has proven constantly to develop independent thinking skills, for businesses to find innovative solutions to problems, or to express complex ideas with clarity. The arts help to build a sense of purpose and direction, providing us with the tools needed to shape not only our own futures, but also contribute positively to society at large.
At The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery, our aim is to exhibit art in the most 'luxuriously friendly' manner possible. Whether it's someone finding our website to begin to learning the basics of art through a course within The Academy, or discovering an artist whose work we admire. Our goal is always to create spaces where creativity is encouraged to be explored and where artists feel empowered to express themselves, and where their work can be loved by others. The gallery is more than just a place to exhibit art; we aim for it to be a place where creativity grows, where new voices find expression, and where the remarkable impact of the arts is celebrated.
As for my own tale, I feel this unrelenting and wayward creative passage is just beginning to gather momentum. It’s only now beginning to make sense. There is always more to learn, more to explore, and more stories to tell. But one thing remains clear: Creativity is not just a personal pursuit; it is a great shared experience, which change lives and, given opportunity, positively shapes the future.