About us
What is ‘Caring through Creativity’?
Cordialis promotes a more creative and caring society by helping everyone use their innate creativity to help others.
Creativity is widely regarded as a natural and defining human characteristic, yet many of us are uncomfortable with expressing our creativity, as we believe we lack necessary talent, or simply lack the time or means for creative expression. Our impulse for simple, natural creativity, such as singing a song, can be limited by a lack of exposure when young, or a negative judgement that we carry into our later lives.
At the same time, creative expression such as singing and dancing are known to be an important part of social bonding, supporting a shared sense of belonging, and allowing us to see and feel our common humanity.
The Cordialis approach to creativity focusses on the way in which each person’s innate creativity can activate, support and enrich that of another person. By using our creativity to reach out to another, we focus less on what we perceive to be our own limitations and instead aim to enhance another’s life.
For example, a parent might sing a song with a child, a carer might sing with an elderly resident, a medical professional might sing with a patient, as a means of encouraging that person to sing with us. This is not a performance, but rather a simple activity that promotes wellbeing and cements our shared bond. We are not concerned with the technical quality of our own singing in this context, but rather the emotional quality. The process of sharing the singing is its own goal. The same may apply when we are dancing together, acting, improvising, painting, sculpting, wood working, cooking, gardening...indeed, any act of creativity.
Our creative act becomes an act of caring for someone else, who, in turn, is supported to actively engage and express their own caring instincts in return. We all benefit from both our creative expression and our aspiration to comfort and support each other. By reaching out, we find self-care through other-care.
Caring through creativity is a way of being, rather than a set of skills. It is achievable by a pre-schooler and by a senior citizen living with dementia. Indeed, the pre-schooler or the senior citizen may well lead the way in automatically aligning their creativity with their caring.
The test of every act of creativity: Does it help you to enthusiastically, passionately, whole-heartedly and gratefully Embrace all your life? This, I believe, is the basic purpose of all the arts—and thus should be the basic Intention of every artist.
John Diamond MD, A Few Words on Art (Just a Few) (2010) p 2
What does ‘Cordialis’ mean?
Post-classical Latin cordialis (adjective) (of medicine) stimulating (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources), of or relating to the heart (from 14th cent. in British sources), heartfelt, sincere...
Oxford English Dictionary
We chose the name Cordialis as it combines both the emotional and medical senses of the heart, which is the only aspect that truly matters when engaging in creativity as care. The relevance of the heart to creativity is was stated beautifully by classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven:
Von Herzen—Möge es wieder—Zu Herzen gehn!
From the heart – may it go to the heart!
Beethoven, inscribed on a score for his Missa solemnis, 1824
Our approach
Cordialis facilitates and employs many types of creativite engagement to support individuals at all life stages and provide opportunities to pass on that support to others. All those engaged can be both givers and receivers of artistic sharing. We offer friendly, unpressurised opportunities for singing, dancing, drama and creative arts, often in partnership with other like-minded organisations.
Rather than being ‘inclusive’ Cordialis activities are non-exclusive. We do not exclude anyone who wishes to engage but work to provide opportunities that meet the needs of any interested participant. One feature of Cordialis is its intergenerational projects that allow families, teachers and students, staff and the cared-for to share creative, artistic pursuits together.
We aim to provide service for free, or at minimal cost, to allow for maximum engagement. At the same time, we offer various types of engagement and training for professionals in education, the arts, business and health to maximise their own creative abilities while giving back to their communities.
Cordialis projects develop creative activities as a way of life, rather than an adjunct to our professional roles. Everyone should not only have access to creative pursuits but feel confident to independently share their creativity with others.
About our logo
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