Service Planning
3 Ways to Cultivate Creative Environments
I’m a sucker for a good environment.
Maybe you’re the same way… you’ll pick a place to eat as much for the ambiance as you will for the food. But, of course, the best is when both align to create a killer experience.
Our churches are just the same way. Maybe some churches lean toward good aesthetics. And others lean more toward good “food.” But I believe it’s best when we achieve both.
Those creating the meaningful spaces can enjoy it just as much as those who get to encounter them. @ColeNeSmith Click To Tweet
Every component of the environment we create communicates something. @ColeNeSmith Click To Tweet
1. Be Strategic
Then we can move into more detail about the environment by asking questions like, “What are some emotions we can ascribe to this environment” and even more esoteric questions like, “What colors are appropriate for this space at this time?”
2. Communicate Clearly
If you can answer the questions in #1 and communicate the answers to the rest of your team, the lighting designer can do his job, the graphics person can do her job, the mix engineer can choose a pre and post gathering playlist… and even though you haven’t had to watch over their shoulders all the time, there will be an increased sense of cohesion to the environment and experience.
3. Go Beyond
As a result, people can go beyond accomplishing the bare minimum. Things go from mediocre to awesome.
When people go beyond accomplishing the bare minimum, things go from mediocre to awesome. @ColeNeSmith Click To Tweet
If you start implementing these three practices in your planning, I promise you’ll see a new level of creativity in your gatherings. I have a “Curator’s Tool” that you can print out to help you with all this! It helps you ask questions as you devise your strategy. And you can pass the completed tool right along to your team to help communicate clearly. Included with the “Curator’s Tool” are two additional tools designed to help you Cultivate More Creative Environments. They include :
- 9 Types of Creative Experiences For Gatherings with an Experience Guide
- 3 Questions to Ask to Help You Overcome Fear and Say “Yes” to Creative Risk
“9 Types of Creative Experiences For Gatherings with an Experience Guide” tool will help you get out of the rut of doing the same thing over and over again and help you being engaging people in new and meaningful ways. I LOVE helping people discover and value their own creative voice, and that can feel risky sometimes. The “3 Questions to Ask to Help You Overcome Fear and Say “Yes” to Creative Risk” video is designed to help empower you to live your creativity with boldness and faith.
So, click here to get the “Curator’s Tool” download link and the two additional videos and tools!
Looking forward to continuing the journey with you.
Cole NeSmith
Visual Artist, Pastor, Writer
City Beautiful Church | Orlando, FL
Colenesmith.com
Cole NeSmith is pastor of City Beautiful Church in Orlando, FL. He is a visual artist, writer, speaker, musician, actor, arts advocate and experience curator. He also creates interactive art and experiences through his creative collective, Uncover the Color, an immersive experience company providing interactive creative elements for brands and events. In addition to his life as an artist and entrepreneur, Cole is an arts advocate and actively curates and produces arts events in Orlando and abroad. In 2012, Cole launched the Creative City Project featuring the best of Orlando’s artists and arts organizations creating and performing in downtown Orlando’s public spaces. Cole’s Uncover The Color Podcast.