The need for creativity is growing

In early September, Theodor Ringborg took up his position as Vice President for Creativity at Luleå University of Technology. This makes him a pioneer breaking new ground; there is no similar position at any other Swedish university.
“I want to help open doors to a new way of thinking about what we mean by the creative process,” says Theodor Ringborg.

He grew up in the U.S. and Stockholm. During his professional career, he has lived in major cities such as Istanbul and London. Theodor Ringborg and his wife, who is from Kangos, had long yearned for the tranquility of rural life and began talking about moving from Stockholm to Norrbotten.

When he was offered the position of art gallery director at the newly established Konsthall Tornedalen, it felt like the right time to take the plunge. Theodor Ringborg resigned from his job as director at Bonniers Konsthall. The whole family packed up and moved to the small village of Hedenäset, just south of Övertorneå. It turned out to be a perfect move.

“Hedenäset is a fantastic place. Here I can go skiing, go for a run, fish, or just spend time in nature with my dog. Compared to Stockholm, I also have much more control over what I allow to capture my attention. In larger communities, so much is specifically designed to grab your attention. You’re bombarded with stimuli and advertisements. In Hedenäset, an entire day can go by without anyone trying to sell me anything.

Left Konsthall Tornedalen

It wasn’t without some trepidation that he resigned from his job at Konsthall Tornedalen in Vitsaniemi, where he had led the effort to finance the construction and design of the art gallery. But once all the contracts were in place and construction was underway, he found himself with time for reflection and the thought that perhaps he should do something else.

After a while, an opportunity arose at Luleå University of Technology, but at the same time, he had received a letter of acceptance stating that he had been admitted to a chimney sweep training program.

“At first, I felt I wanted to learn a hands-on trade in a profession where there’s high demand.” After a week of wavering, I finally chose the university. The job at Luleå University of Technology was simply too interesting. I look forward to using the expertise I’ve built up over many years to help researchers and students.”

A recurring theme in Theodor Ringborg’s life story is that life happens and that it’s important to seize the moment as it passes. Another common thread is that his interest in culture and academia goes hand in hand with his interest in craftsmanship.

Started at a construction company

In his late teens, he began working for various galleries, hanging paintings. It all started when, at age 14, he worked at a construction company where he learned to operate a forklift, a scissor lift, and other machinery. This proved very useful a few years later when he began working as a technician, building installations on commission for various artists. The job took him to world cities such as Madrid, New York, and Istanbul.

“I like building things. It’s rewarding to build for artists because it’s part of the creative process. I still build things, though not art—just treehouses for the kids, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and garden boxes, and stuff like that.”

His job as a technician led to roles as a curator and writer, which in turn led to positions as director of various cultural institutions. His academic career has been something of a side project.

– I’d put together an exhibition in Norway and was invited to Mexico City to give a lecture about it. One of the attendees was a professor from Goldsmiths, University of London, who thought I should pursue a Ph.D. under her supervision. I didn’t really have any plans to do so, but she’s the kind of person you simply can’t say no to.

Creativity Is on the Decline

Another common thread is creativity itself. Theodor Ringborg explains that there are studies indicating that global creativity is on the decline, even as multinational companies like McKinsey, IBM, and Global argue that the need for creativity in the labour market is increasing. This presents an interesting tension that warrants attention. Against this backdrop, he believes Luleå University of Technology is absolutely right to invest in creativity.

Right now, there’s a heated debate in the academic world about how AI is affecting research and education. Theodor Ringborg believes that there is one aspect of the ongoing AI revolution where creative thinking at the university can make a difference.

“As AI grows and takes over more and more areas, the value of and demand for—let’s say—non-programmable things will increase.”

One company that has recognized this, he explains, is the American investment firm Thrive Eternal, whose investment strategy focuses on sports and cultural institutions. The firm recently attracted attention as the intended lead investor in FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s heavily criticized plans to sell 20 percent of FIFA’s commercial rights to events such as the World Cup.

The Longing to Come Together

“This example shows that there is a longing among people to come together around a shared experience—and a corresponding interest in capitalizing on that longing. This could involve sports, live music, dance, or theater, and so on. One in five Swedes got up in the middle of the night to watch the World Cup soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia, even though they could have watched it later. This example suggests that, with certain things, it is important that they happen ´for real.´ I don’t think anyone will ever want to watch an AI-generated soccer match.”

He emphasizes that creativity should not be associated solely with various art forms. Creativity can be defined as original thinking, and a research-intensive environment like a university is already creative. At the start of his tenure, he sees his primary task as getting to know the university and the people who work here.

“The creative skills that are crucial for problem-solving in technology and research mirror those used in the arts. And the wealth of ideas that emerges in the arts is often relevant to scientific research and technological development. Creativity is therefore not confined to the realm of culture. It is a core skill in science and technology just as much as it is in cultural creation. At this early stage, I want above all to meet people and hear their ideas so I can get a sense of the enthusiasm and the conditions needed to move forward.”