Infrequently Asked Questions
Artists do not think outside the box - there is no box.
Frances Whitehead, What Do Artists Know?
What is hybrid arts?
Hybrid arts occur when artists collaborate with partners outside the arts sector, such as in sciences, technology, healthcare, government, or community development. This cross-sector collaboration is the defining feature of hybrid arts.
What skills do artists bring to collaborations?
Artists excel at interpreting cultural information, connecting knowledge across domains, imagining new possibilities, and translating abstract ideas into tangible forms. They bring keen observational skills, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to generate unexpected insights into all domains.
Can art solve problems?
Art rarely solves problems directly. However, artists often identify new problems or reframe existing ones, offering unique perspectives. These insights can lead to more effective solutions.
What does success look like?
Success in creative collaboration is an ongoing process of positive organizational change: new practices are established, deeply rooted challenges are addressed, relationships with communities are improved.
What organizations can benefit from collaborating with artists?
Any organization dealing with complex issues can benefit, including those in public health, urban planning, education, technology, and government.
What do you actually do?
I facilitate partnerships between artists and professionals in other fields, from experimental pilots to long-term institutional change. Strategy, coaching, program design, grant writing, facilitation. Whatever a particular collaboration needs.
Why this work?
Many artists and non-art professionals want to collaborate but face barriers: separate professional spheres, no support infrastructure, no shared language. I've spent twenty years learning how to bridge those gaps.
What's the philosophy behind it?
Culture shapes everything downstream. Artists spend their lives absorbing and processing it. When they work in other fields, that capacity comes with them.
Where did the name come from?
The term is inspired by the "hybrid economy" concept introduced in the 2003 report "Investing in Creativity: A Study of the Support Structure for U.S. Artists", which highlighted artists working across sectors. Read more about this on the blog.
Where do I find good examples of creative collaborations?
Check out projects by SymbioticA, Rebuild Foundation, Caroline Sinders, Project Row Houses, Robert Irwin, Frances Whitehead, Municipal Artist Partnerships, Center for Performance and Civic Practice, Yo Mamas House, ...
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