Teach Inspire Create Conference 2024: meet Ivan Michael Blackstock

We all process information differently. For young people, music, dance, drama, and even sport can be powerful ways to process that information. Seeing words on a chalkboard, for example, might not always be the most impactful method of getting a message across. What’s beautiful about the creative arts is their ability to communicate through different mediums and frequencies. By using creative education, we can discove innovative ways of teaching which brings new energy and life into learning.

I always wondered why some of my peers weren’t superstars, even though I saw their creative genius. For some reason, they weren’t seen on the ‘cool radar’ like other artists. I wanted to spotlight these established artists whilst also giving a platform to the pioneering artists on the scene. These pioneering artists have an authenticity and belong to a unique subculture they live and breathe. I wanted to showcase that subculture and the creative geniuses within it. These artists resonated with me because I saw myself in them, especially within my dance community. I decided to create a platform to showcase these unique minds who might have felt out of place in their own communities. I wanted to build a new community that created unity whilst pushing the boundaries of artistic practice with a powerful message. The artists I featured had distinct multidisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches. CRXSS PLATFXRM bridges a unique gap between artists working with some of the world’s biggest brands and artists creating new work in their bedrooms, highlighting the strong connection between them.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was dealing with negative experiences that were built into my identity, along with struggling to build my self-esteem. Artists often battle low self-esteem due to limited opportunities to showcase their work, a lack of funding, or difficulty in communicating their unique artistic vision. This can lead to anxiety and depression.

I was able to overcome these challenges by surrounding myself with the right people—professional help, friends and family, and other creatives who shared my excitement, hope, and joy. I would tell young people to understand the importance of having the right people around them and to recognize that we’re all on different timelines. Some timelines are self-created, while others are behind the scenes. Time works differently for everyone—sometimes you’re given just two days to complete a piece of work. That intense environment can shape your creative practice, develop new friendships or communities, and deepen your creative thinking. When you have more time, you can use it to dive deeper into artistic moments and reflect on why you’re on this creative journey.

It’s so important to learn how to make time your friend and understand its value. Time can spark new connections, inspiration, and strength. We need to capture those moments.

With TRAPLORD, we created a safe space where people can share and express themselves. This space was built on trust, honesty, and authenticity, and by allowing both the leaders and followers to be within all of us. We need to remember that even though we come from different walks of life, if you open us up, we are all the same. We come from different parts of the world, country, or borough, and we each bring our own unique experiences to the table.

Education shouldn’t be static. It should be something that’s constantly moving, breathing, and evolving. Young people in education are like raw diamonds. If these diamonds aren’t carefully shaped by their teachers and lecturers, they can be damaged. Educators need to recognize the value of the students in front of them. Students place their trust in teachers to help guide and mould them, and that trust must be nurtured to honour their raw talent. At the same time, students need to be encouraged and supported to explore their creativity independently. The relationship between students and teachers should be holistic, as it helps both sides to develop and grow.