a student uses her sketchbook with an expansive reflection of water infront of her

School of Creative Human Development

Explore the intricacies of your creative growth with our short courses and student enrichment programmes.

Overview

The School of Creative Human Development aims to unite personal creative practices with evidence-based insights into positive human development. Through the use of innovative frameworks, hands-on projects, and contemporary research, our programmes will help you accelerate your own physical, personal and social development, with an emphasis on improving your communities and the world at large. 

Technical skills are incredibly important for any creative domain or practice, but so much about becoming a successful artist, creator and person takes more than technical skills alone. All of the schools at Catalyst work toward growing the whole person, but the School of Creative Human Development puts those more intangible aspects of personal growth front and centre. 

Summer short courses

Level: Beginner

Get an in-depth overview of the world of psychology through the lens of creativity, as you dive deep into creativity's developmental roots, its impact on mental and physical wellbeing and its role in shaping communities.

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Student enrichment programmes

Unlock authentic leadership by transforming how you see yourself, your interactions and your creative potential.

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Learn by doing

You won’t find any “traditional” classrooms, lectures or exams at Catalyst. It’s hands-on from day one and you’ll be collaborating with other motivated creatives on projects. You’ll produce work under challenging creative and logistical constraints that will both stretch and empower you. You’ll use this momentum to form a foundation of technical skills and theoretical understanding, then build upon it with expert guidance by our tutors.

Cutting-edge facilities 

Based at the iconic Funkhaus, our riverside campus is part of the historic building that was once home to the GDR’s broadcasting station and was one of the world’s largest multi-studio complexes during the Soviet era. 

It’s a technological playground, with cutting-edge facilities including over 30 recording studios and production suites, a film studio with green screen, a cinema, a theatre, multiple IT worksuites and several tons of audiovisual equipment.

Taught by experts

Our courses are delivered by a team of expert tutors and internationally-acclaimed visiting industry professionals, with a genuine passion for passing on their specialist knowledge to others.

They'll ask the difficult questions you've been avoiding, set challenges that stretch you in ways you didn’t know you were capable of, provide insights into new ways of thinking, heap praise where it's due and prepare you for professional opportunities.