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Our mission is to affect change through the research and production of creative, socially engaged work.  We are committed to artistic investment and challenging thinking that encourages community co-operation and cultural representation.  

We are currently working on:

INHABIT: Vacant spaces to vibrant places

Inhabit is a programme of activity part funded by Arts Council England and DCLG to re-invigorate local high streets and raise community confidence in local spaces. Hybrid has been commissioned to deliver the programme by Birmingham City Council. Our approach is to provide a pleasant place for people to meet, have a cup of tea, enjoy taking part in creative workshops or simply talking and sharing stories about what the local high street used to be like and how it could be in the future.  
 
The activities are taking place throughout 2010 and across Birmingham in Erdington, Hodge Hill, Ladywood, Perry Barr and bringing everything together in the Pavilions, Birmingham city centre. Our first tearoom opened on the 20th August at 173 Hagley Road, so do come and visit us. We are still looking for empty shops in the other wards - so let us know if you know a friendly landlord.
 

As a result of Arts Council England funding, we are offering a series of commissions, please see the file attached below for more information and how to apply.
 

There will also be global representation through the internet with all participants and artists encouraged to contribute on Hybrid’s forum/ blog. The first blogs have started - to read them click across the page on either Inhabit or Inhabit - why and what for!  
 

Birmingham City Council, Arts & Young People Team, Professional Development Programme

We are working with BCC's Arts & Young People Team to deliver a training programme for artists wishing to develop their participatory arts practice. The Professional Development Programme will run from July 2010 till February 2011. It will cover a range of engagements and training styles, including

Action Learning sets to share challenges and find solutions Visits to arts organisations to learn more about who, what and how Panels/ Talks on themes such as health and community cohesion Cafe style conversations on project development, delivery and evaluation. The first visit took place on the 23rd July and was a fascinating Introduction to the work of Geese Theatre - check out their website at www.geese.co.uk

Our next visit is scheduled for the 23rd September and is to see a rehearsal and planing session led by the education and young people savy Big Brum

Cultural Consultants, Wiltshire Music Centre

Hybrid has been working with WMC since July 2008, as part of a 3 year organisational development programme.  The work has been fascinating and staff at WMC fully committed, keen to engage and extremely capable.  The centre overall has an excellent reputation in the region, although it was largely un-used by BME communities in the area prior to this project.  We have worked within the organisation, with staff, drawing individuals into the space, as well as consulting beyond the organisation with community organisations, individuals, professional arts organisations, artists, local authority officers, equalities officers amongst others.  Our work plan was structured within the following thematic groups and we have sought to address each of these, although priority has differed and some fields have progressed more than others, in keeping with a long term, 3 year approach:

1.         Mapping/ Research

2.         Training

3.         Project Development

4.         Advocacy

Whose Story? The National Trust  

Hybrid is working with Whose Story? staff to evaluate the success of this initiative.  Whose Story? is an audience development and outreach programme based within 4 very different properties and spaces in the West Midlands. A range of work is taking place to connect new audiences to the sites and deliver innovative and engaging events. The programme of work includes organisational and staff development, volunteer recruitment, outreach projects, activities and events.

Hybrid has considerable experience working with The National Trust. This began when we were asked to carry out research exploring audience development.  We ran a series of focus groups with young people, community groups and arts professionals at three National Trust properties.  In order to encourage engagement, we worked with an artist to deliver these.  The participants therefore benefited from a more creative experience than conversation alone might have achieved. The focus groups provided staff with considerable insight into processes of engagement as well as existing perceptions. Alongside this we carried out wide ranging one to one interviews with community groups, individuals and National Trust staff.  We produced a comprehensive report that included wide ranging recommendations for National Trust staff; the report contributed towards the National Trust’s successful Heritage Lottery Fund application for £400k. A further report was commissioned which focused upon perceptions of National Trust parks and open spaces. 

Birmingham City Council, Arts & Young People Team, Cultural Entitlement

Hybrid is working with the Arts & Young People Team to deliver a series of training, professional development and creative conferences.

We are delivering an event on cultural entitlement which will consider how strategic lessons can be learnt through frontline delivery from local authorities delivering cultural entitlement across England. We will explore the potential for delivering a realistic universal entitlement to culture in a climate of reducing resources. The programme will consider how cultural practice emerging from youth focused initiatives can impact on educational policy and organisational change.

The full programme will be added to this page nearer to the date