I’m heading to Columbus,OH to consult with the Chair and Faculty of the Media Studies Division at Columbus College of Art & Design.  Like many art schools, CCAD is energized and inspired by how Digital has opened up opportunities both creatively and professionally, and is very smartly devoting time and attention to staying at the leading edge of this wave.

CCAD’s president, Denny Griffith, recently offered a commentary in the Columbus Post Dispatch that summarizes perfectly the dilemma that many academic leaders understand perfectly well, but that State, Federal and Industry officials understand poorly, if at all.

This is the STEM question.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  It’s an acronym that is supposed to prioritize the U.S. education system towards making us more competitive in the global marketplace.  Unfortunately, STEM ignores what is very arguably the single strongest component in maintaining the U.S.’ competitiveness, and that is the “A” for Arts.  Two years ago, the Conference Board published a study called Ready To Innovate, which demonstrated that more and more companies are looking for skill sets in their new employees that are much more Arts/Creativity-related than Science/Math-related.  Companies want workers who can brainstorm, problem-solve, collaborate creatively, and contribute/communicate new ideas.  And, interestingly, the study shows that there is a dearth of well-prepared creative workers.

“STEM” should be amended to “STEAM,” an idea that has been kicking around with many people for a few years now (including Griffith), and became a key discussion point of the Americans for the Arts 2007 National Policy Roundtable that I attended at Sundance.  (Read the summary report from that conference here).

The bottom line here is that we must integrate the Arts into everything we do, from education to commerce.  Ideas and solutions pop into the spaces created in our consciousness by the alert relaxation that happens when we create and make stuff (dare I say “make art”…).  In the fitness program metaphor for good  Business Development, think of the Arts as the Yoga component.

Remember those silly IBM commercials with people lying on the floor in dark conference rooms “ideating?”  They were made to seem so stupid and ridiculous.  But men in short sleeved white shirts with pocket protectors aren’t making it happen, either!   Remember IBM founder Tom Watson’s famous admonition?  “Think!”  Well, OK.  I’m thinking.  Now what?  How about “Create!”