I tell stories of individual and collective creativity in multiple forms with a wide spectrum of clients. Working collaboratively with an open mind, I discover the beating heart of a narrative and unlock the story within. 

Depending on the scope and needs of your story project, I consult individually and as part of a nimble creative team based in Baltimore, Tulum, Los Angeles, Ashland, Park City, and Berlin. Our diverse experiences, cultures, and geographic locations make for nuanced, insightful stories, digitally, visually, and in print. 

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My approach to storytelling hasn't changed much since I was a child...

It all begins with asking questions. I’m not sure where my love of asking questions comes from, but I've felt it since I was a child, attempting to teach ants their ABCs. Wondering, what if?

 

What if ants learn? It might sound silly, but no one told me that I couldn’t teach ants or that they couldn't learn. So…what if? I sat on the sidewalk and tutored away.
 

I grew up (mostly) and put my love of questions to work, enjoying a meaningful, productive career in the public benefit arts. I cofounded an underground arts space and wrote, directed, and produced my own dance theatre works. For larger organizations, I produced and directed performing and literary arts series. Over time, I raised millions of dollars through grant awards, individual donor campaigns, and fundraising events.

 
When I got the email from noted arts education researcher Dr. James Catterall, I was ready for change. He invited me to join the Centers for Research on Creativity to manage studies in classrooms, makers clubs, and playgrounds in the US and abroad. I happily accepted and grew the position from one study to multiple, simultaneous studies, contributing as field researcher, interviewer and focus group facilitator. I co-authored a book chapter on dance as a vehicle for learning and transformation.

 

At the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State, I earned my Master's degree in Creativity Studies, then completed my first novel and wrote, produced, and directed a short documentary film.  

I've learned that creativity is universal. It happens on every scale of existence and is not limited to children, artists, or scientists. To be alive is to be creative. 

 

So, what does it mean to be creative? The simplest definition, among many, is that creativity is having an idea that is both new, or novel, and useful. 

I've learned that scholarship and silliness are not at odds. Play is the basis of open minded inquiry, which is fundamental to the scientific method, which is rooted in asking questions — the basis of storytelling.

If you have a story to tell, but don't know where to begin, or how to tell it, get in touch to explore how we might work together. 

 

And, oh yes, ants learn.

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~ Kim Zanti

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