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Susan van Esch was one of the students of this year’s Radical Creativity summer course at Aalto University Summer School. As a Head of the master's programme Crossover Creativity at Utrecht School of Arts in the Netherlands, she found inspiration and new learning practices across her own discipline and the summer course at Aalto. 

Susan is an anthropologist with an extensive background in international development for big corporations and international NGOs. Driving change and bringing people closer together through creativity is particularly close to her heart.

‘I have always had a heavy focus on driving social change and working towards an equal world where everyone has the same opportunities and possibilities. The power of creativity is elevated when people from different backgrounds, disciplines and internationalities are brought together. Radical creativity is truly a language that you don’t need words for. If we join forces, we can do so much more,’ says Susan.

Susan, why did you attend the course Radical Creativity at Aalto University Summer School?

I attended the course to gather insights for a master’s program course I’m leading in Utrecht. I was especially interested in exploring how radical creativity and playful approaches can drive social change and foster collective collaboration – but also what kind of counter-effects and tension radical creativity can cause.

After the course, I was so inspired that I started to dream about a future collaborative summer school with Utrecht and Aalto, where we could meet online to exchange ideas and experiences about radical creativity. Who knows, maybe one day?

What does radical creativity mean to you?

When I joined the course, I knew I wanted to get a solid understanding of what radical creativity truly means. I realize that everyone has their own interpretation of it, but to me, radical creativity is all about the journey. It’s a process - coming from your deepest, innermost, core drive to bring transformational change.