Attention as a Balance of Energy and Information

Artist Jamila Rahimi at work at supported studio Art Enables in Washington, D.C.

When we think about creative expression, we often focus on the finished product — the painting, the sculpture, the photograph. But underneath every act of creativity is something more delicate and powerful: attention.

In creative spaces, especially those designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), attention isn’t just about focus or discipline. It’s an active negotiation between energy and information. In every moment, participants — and facilitators — are managing a balance: how much energy is available, how much information is present, and how those two forces interact to either spark or stall creative action.

Energy is the enthusiasm, vitality, or emotional spark a person brings to a moment.Information is the material, the environment, the sensory input, and the ideas available to explore.

The quiet question at the heart of facilitation becomes:

How do we create environments where energy and information meet in a way that fosters creativity, not confusion or overwhelm?

Sometimes we might think that an abundance of materials, instructions, and choices will energize participants. Other times, we might find that offering less — a single material, a simple prompt, a quiet space — allows energy to gather and find form.

This negotiation is rarely spoken aloud, but it is always happening:

• Is today a day when more information will feed excitement?

• Or is today a day when less will allow energy to take shape without competing distractions?

  
  

As facilitators, we are also called to stay sensitive to another crucial layer: Where is someone’s attention going, and why?Are they engaging with a stimulus because it sparks joy or curiosity?Or are they turning toward — or away from — something out of anxiety, discomfort, or overload?

Is someone indulging in stimulus or evading it?

Understanding this distinction helps us offer support that is genuinely aligned with the individual’s needs. A new material might be an exciting opportunity — or it might feel threatening if it brings up sensory discomfort or unfamiliar pressure. Even familiar routines can either soothe or stifle, depending on context.

Facilitating creativity means becoming attuned to how someone is prioritizing incoming information, and along what prerogatives:

• Is this a moment to lean into exploration?

• Or a moment to protect energy and offer anchoring familiarity?

  
  

Each choice we make — to add, to simplify, to amplify, to pause — contributes to the shape that attention, energy, and ultimately creativity can take.