The Democratisation of Creativity in the Age of the Knowledge Economy
The Democratisation of Creativity in the Age of the Knowledge Economy

Summary/Abstract: The main objective of the paper is to analyse the discourse of modernisation, increasingly widespread in the Polish media, scientific discourse and public politics, which defines ‘creativity’ as a source of economic and social ‘profit’ - supporting economic development, stimulating active citizenship, as well as harmonising tensions arising from the challenges of the transforming capitalism. As part of this discourse, different social actors argue that creativity is a drive to change, an economic growth factor, a chance to modify the structure of employment, and a source of personal gain for all who are building the modern economy. A significant feature of this discourse is a deeply-rooted belief in the progressing democratisation of creativity and other creative competences. Within this viewpoint, creativity is a disposition available to all, and not exclusively to the selected Great Men; it is not innate, but possible to be achieved through long-lasting and arduous work. As a consequence, democratised creativity should translate into the development of a society of knowledge, and is to be a key to changes in society's mentality, since the latter is perceived as the most crucial long-term factor of socio-economic development.

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