ArtsWok Collaborative
We are an arts-based community development organisation that recognises the creativity and agency within individuals and communities to generate change.
We believe in collaborating to imagine and develop thriving communities in a sustainable society. Since 2012, we have done this through the creative producing of innovative projects that demonstrate the power of the arts for change, the capability development of growing practitioners in our field, and researching and advocating for arts-based community development.
As intermediaries, facilitators and creative producers crossing sectors, we connect people, ideas and resources; bringing artmaking, community building and civic participation together in a meaningful way.
Vision
Inclusive communities that allow the full expression of human potential.
Mission
To nurture thriving communities by harnessing the power of the arts to create dialogue, invite social participation and build bridges across difference.
Company Values
Collaboration
Harnessing strengths and sharing resources through processes that foster mutual respect, shared decision-making, honesty and open communication.
Empathy
Connecting with others by maintaining an openness, suspending judgement and listening deeply.
Creativity
Permitting time and space to play, fail, imagine and experiment.
Agency
Recognising everyone has strengths and abilities to be agents of change and to be equipped to realise their potential.
Bridging
We connect and collaborate with people from different disciplines. This involves translating vocabularies from different fields, facilitating meaningful communication and new understanding to emerge.
Listening
We practise deep listening to understand and elicit different views, often on challenging issues. This creates safe space to ask critical and insightful questions, which can then lead to creative solutions.
Advocating
We generate awareness and understanding of the contribution of arts and cultural approaches to working in, and with communities leading to various outcomes. We are interested in growing the field of Arts-Based Community Development.
Developing
We create and experiment in our work as creative producers to develop innovative programmes and practices that contribute towards community development. These methodologies and learnings are shared with other practitioners through training and mentoring opportunities.
Researching
We believe in the importance of research, especially if it is grounded in lived experiences to undergird the work we do. In turn, we also understand our practice as research, and aim to constantly critically reflect, document and engage with others on our work.
Flagship Programmes
Our flagship programmes are Both Sides, Now, M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, The Greenhouse Lab and The Greenhouse Sessions.
Financial Statements
ArtsWok Collaborative Limited is a company limited by guarantee with IPC status (UEN: 201432448C), and is a recipient of the National Arts Council’s Major Grant for the period of 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024.
