Improvisation and Artistic Creativity

In this paper I suggest that we look to improvisation in the arts in or- der to understand and explain artistic creativity. Indeed, improvisation can be regarded as a general source as well as an example of artistic cre- ativity, because it “places not the result of creativity, but rather the very conditions of creativity on the stage.”1 Instead of being anti-artistic in na- ture, due to its supposed unfinishedness, unpreparedness and inaccuracy, improvisation in performing arts (music, theatre, dance) exemplifies and 'fuels' artistic creativity as such. My argument is developed in three steps. I discuss the con- cept of creativity in general and in reference to art. Then I focus my attention on the properties of improvisation and the phenomenology of improvisational art practices. Finally, I argue that, due to some of its constitutive features, improvisation can be understood as an exemplification of art creativity.