Creativity Matters

Congregational Subscriptions
The Vision
Our Creativity Matters packets and groups help members engage the monthly themes and explore spiritual growth through creative expression. It's all about  allowing our intuition and imagination to guide us, not just our logic and reflective minds. Think of it as making room for your right brain to dance with your left brain. 
Participants
Creativity Matters groups are designed for everyone - no experience or artistic skill required. Just bring a playful and adventurous attitude. 😊
Our Content Developer & Trainer
Elizabeth McKoy has been a Theatre and Visual Teaching Artist, Creativity Coach, Arts Curriculum Trainer, Professional Theatre Director and non-profit Arts leader for over 25 years. Elizabeth also founded  Soulster.org - a new creativity non-profit focused on growing and celebrating creativity.    Elizabeth has been a UU for many years and is also a passionate acrylic painter who loves sketching, writing, singing, dancing, cooking, creating digital stories, directing musical theatre and hanging with her kooky family of 5 kids, socialist NYC mother,  supportive husband and her 17 year + old goldendoodle dog. 
The Model & Subscription Components

Project-Based Packets: Like our other small group curriculum, Creativity Matters packets are built around our monthly themes. What makes these packets unique is that each contains creative exercises for group members to work on prior to their group meeting. The packets also contain inspirational material and reflection questions related to that exercise. ​

The project options will include such things as: collage, storytelling, scrapbooking, sketching, photography, creative writing, watercolor painting, fabric arts, sculpture, movement, music, and more. Again, all of these projects will be designed for everyone - no technical expertise or honed artistic skill required! 
         
Group Meetings for Sharing & Reflection:  We suggest group members meet monthly to share the projects and insights that emerged from the exercise/project they picked.  These “show and share” moments help help one tap into the personal meanings that arise from the act of creation.​​ Process-wise we suggest you use the typical Soul Matters model of one round of active listening followed by a second "response round" during which members share how the projects and sharing of others helped connect them with a memory or insight.

Monthly Facilitator Coaching Built In: In addition to receiving 10 theme-based packets with your subscription, Elizabeth McCoy, our program coordinator, hosts a monthly coaching call for all Creativity Matters facilitators. At these online facilitator gatherings, Elizabeth shares "in-group creative exercises" you can then do with your groups as warm-up and grounding exercises before diving into sharing and reflecting on the packet projects group members chose. Additionally, Elizabeth makes time to answer questions from facilitators and coach them on any challenges they are facing. These calls are, of course, optional.

Studio Lab Option: Elizabeth will also host an optional online studio hangout meeting on the first Saturday of every month where participants from any Creativity Matters group from around the country can gather to work on their projects together and connect with each other. It's an informal time to  practice, laugh, share and learn together.  Perfect for those who like to create in community or need help setting aside time to work on the project. For many of us, the sharing that naturally arises as we create together is a spiritual experience in and of itself. Elizabeth "lightly" facilitates the experience by inviting attendees to share their mid-project struggles/insights if they like. She is also on hand to model, guide and teach mini-tutorials (when needed) on the monthly projects. Just like hanging out in an in-person studio!
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A Creative Journal to Companion You: Another strongly suggested component is the use of a creative journal. ​To help participants integrate and see connections between their monthly projects, the packets and guidance regularly invites journal/scrapbook work to capture stories, images, ideas and feelings that come up. On the monthly coaching calls, Elizabeth will offer strategic ways for your participants to engage and use the journal.
What You Get​
  • 10 packets
  • Facilitator access to monthly coaching call
  • Participant access to monthly studio labs

Cost
Since this is our pilot year, we've offering this subscription at a discount.
The annual subscription is:
160 ($16/month) for congregations under 150 members  ($185 normally)
200 ($20/mo) for congregations over 150 members.  ($225 normally)

Check Out a Free Sample
Click HERE to download a sample packet. ​
Subscribe by clicking on one of the buttons below....

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​Other Creativity Matters Related Resources and Groups
Creativity Matters with Elizabeth - Online & Open to All!
In addition to offering Creativity Matter packets for congregations to run groups, we here at Soul Matters are also running a Creativity Matters group. This group is facilitated by Creativity Matters developer, Elizabeth McKoy, and open to any UU who wants to participate.
​For more detail and to sign up, check out our Online Classes & Small Groups page.
"Spinning Gold" - An online retreat to claim and carry forward the growth culled from a year of adversity
In early August, we're doing our first ever Soul Matters retreat! It will be online and we're rooting it in the expressive arts! This past year has been full of loss, trauma and division. It's also contained growth. We're different now, in ways that we've not fully recognized yet. This retreat is about recognizing it and integrating it in a way that ensures we move into a "new normal," not just return to normal.  
​For more detail and to sign up, check out our Online Classes & Small Groups page.
Video Storytelling Workshop Journey -101 Starter Class (Late September 2021)
Through periodic group meetings and personal one-on-one trainings, participants do a deep dive into a story they want to tell and learn the basic video storytelling skills to bring their story to life. This 101 journey is a prerequisite for our 201 advanced Video Storytelling workshop.  
Click HERE to learn more and register!
Video Storytelling Workshop Journey -201 Advanced Class (October 2021)
This advanced workshop journey helps participants refine and add to their video storytelling skills. It's also a way to stay in community as you do your work, receiving the support, inspiration and witness of a trusted circle of other storytellers.   
Click HERE to learn more and register!
  For more information contact Susan: susan@soulmatterssharingcircle.com.                           Soul Matters Sharing Circle LLC