When creativity becomes a daily practice, teams get braver, kinder, and more effective. In this episode, Jo Hunter shares how 64 Million Artists grew from a simple set of prompts into a national movement and why she’s now stepping aside to keep her own creative fire alive.
About our guest
Jo Hunter founded 64 Million Artists in 2014 with the ambition to unlock everyone’s creativity across the UK. The organisation runs large-scale participation campaigns (including the January Challenge, which reached around 360,000 people last year) and works with clients to use creativity for leadership, co-creation, and building inclusive, people-centred cultures.
Jo discusses announcing her decision to step down as CEO, the team’s choice to close the public programme while leaving a rich resource bank, and her next chapter focused on facilitation and a book on creative courage.
This Episode Covers:
- Losing and finding creativity: how daily creative prompts helped Jo reconnect with herself during a tough period
- From project to practice: the origin and growth of the January Challenge and what happens next
- Creativity for wellbeing: why small, low-stakes acts build confidence, connection, and resilience
- Culture by design: highlights from the Manifesto for Transformative Workplace Culture including everyday creativity, rest as a strategic lever (four-day week, August off), idea-sharing, and fun that includes everyone
- Remote & hybrid reality: short prompts to warm up meetings and build connection online
- Trust → creativity (and back again): creating safe, people-centred environments that invite risk-taking and better ideas
- Leadership transition: stepping away with courage, closing with integrity, and making space for what’s next
- AI & nuance: why creative, curious teams are essential for complex conversations (not polarised hot takes)
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