Festival puts creativity in spotlight at OSU

Monday, April 9, 2012

By Stephanie Taylor

Last year, Oklahoma State University broke the world record for largest twister board as a part of the annual Creativity Festival.  This year, the university is set to celebrate creativity and innovation once again at the fourth annual OSU Creativity Festival Tuesday, April 10, starting at 11 a.m. on the library lawn.  

“The goal of the Creativity Festival is to encourage everyone on campus to let their creativity out and to use it for the betterment of the campus and the world,” said Melanie Page, director, OSU Institute for Creativity and Innovation.

The festival celebrates creativity at OSU and in the Stillwater community. This year’s theme is “What Legacy Will Your Creativity Leave for Future Generations?” The theme is a way of showcasing OSU’s existing creativity while inspiring future creativity, said Stacey Brandhorst, a business graduate student and director of booths at this year’s festival.

“The event was created as a way to highlight all the wonderful work being done by OSU faculty, staff, and students,” Page said.
It is hosted by the OSU Institute for Creativity and Innovation and the Creativity Innovation Entrepreneurship Scholars.

The focus of the CIE is for students to lead innovation in the arts and sciences, commercial activities, technology, and also in social engagements, explained Brandhorst. The CIE promotes student immersion in creative and entrepreneurial endeavors through collaborations, activities and channeling their entrepreneurial potential into all facets of their lives and the greater OSU community.

This year’s festival will feature activities that engage each student’s creativity, such as blank canvases and paint as well as a dream catcher project. In addition, Brandhorst says there will be two types of booths, creativity and innovation booths and promotional booths for students to visit during the festival.

The creativity and innovation booths will be up from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to showcase creativity in the OSU and Stillwater community by highlighting research projects, teaching methods, programs, clubs, or other innovative and creative efforts.  

The student-run, hands-on activities set for the festival are called “creativity stations.” Other activities include a design-your-own T-shirt booth, big drum lessons, inflatables and a photo booth where your video performance is turned into a flip book.

Kevens Prevaris, an artist from Haiti who has donated a finished piece to OSU, will help guide outdoor painting and also display some of his work at the event.

Festival activities will kick off with a welcome by the president and provost and music by the OSU Brass Quartet.

There will also be a “Leave Your Legacy” project where students can sign a ball indicating what their legacy is, Page said. Balls will be given to local schools.

The creativity contest winners will also be announced at 11:30 a.m. There will be a people’s choice award for best booth. The first ticket is free and all other tickets are $1. All proceeds go to Wishing Well, which works to end water supply issues in developing countries.

“My hope is that everyone on campus will take some time to come out and see what is going on at OSU and enjoy the events,” Page said, noting that students have been working hard on their booths and on making the festival a success.