Creating Together: Why Shared Artistic Experiences Matter

In today's world, we face endless distractions that snag our attention and often keep our heads aimed down. But there is a simple solution to this issue: creativity.

Last year, I facilitated an art event for a company here in NYC. At the beginning of the event, I was setting the stage for what was to come and explained a few rules I have for my events. Rule #1 is NO PHONES. When I announced it, I could feel the collective aggravation at the request, and I noticed some people hesitated to put their phones away.

There’s a reason for that rule: creativity is one of the few activities where you can be completely present and focused on the action at hand. It allows you to remove distractions and focus your attention entirely on one thing.

Rarely do we have such moments in time—no technology, no updates, no notifications, no messages. Just what’s in front of us. For these attendees, it was a brush, paint, a canvas, and, most importantly, the people at their table. Once the event began, you could hear the small talk, the laughter, and the focused listening—no distractions, no device pulling attention away. Some conversations were about the art being created, some about upcoming trips; whatever the topic, they were all sharing a present experience together.

I realized how impactful that no-phone rule was when I received feedback the next day. One of the attendees commented in their form: ‘It was such a sense of relief to be told to put my phone away, and it forced me to be aware of my surroundings.’

This is why shared artistic experiences matter: the rare ability to be present and connect with yourself and those around you.