1. Creative/ Action Research

Action Research is a specialist area of knowledge within Hybrid. The company has carried out a number of research projects with action research as the underpinning methodology.

Hybrid recommends action research as an approach because it produces workable outputs, leaves organisations stronger, and ensures opportunities for staff development after having carried out research for themselves, considered the problems and produced the solutions, facilitated by Hybrid within a creative learning framework.

Action research involves the study of a social/ environmental situation with a view to improving the quality of action within it. It must therefore involve enabling action. Other than this one premise, action research is open to a wide spectrum of possibilities that result in implementing change through a specific action, or series of actions within a social setting. The term ‘action research’ is therefore used to indicate the basic unity of theoretical and practical knowledge. Individuals develop practice themselves by starting the process of learning from their own experience, shifting the emphasis away from so called specialist researchers towards a self-monitoring and/ or self-evaluating approach.

Stakeholders affected by any planned changes have the primary responsibility for deciding on courses of action which seem likely to lead to improvement. The researchers are therefore key to both the activity and the identification of issues. Subsequently, their professional, or other, development is implicit – or may be made clearly explicit – within the process of action research. Hence, key to action research is that all those involved have learned and been empowered, in some way.

The emphasis of the research therefore changes from the production of a purely paper based report to the development of the research subjects as well as their social environment – and of course the identified problems or challenges.

2. Evaluation

Hybrid carries out a range of evaluations crossing fields such as education, youth and arts work, social/ community development, policy, funding, strategic development and artistic/ creative development.

Examples include detailed evaluations for artists training schemes, such as the acclaimed Gallery 37; the Collide BME Artists commissioning scheme, local authority arts based provision for people with learning disabilities and ACEWM’s Year of the Artist Evaluation.

3. Creative producer/curator

Hybrid has considerable experience producing a range of conference programmes and events. The company has developed a unique style of drawing together traditional conference approaches alongside a cross section of artist’s interventions and opportunities for networking that enable intensive and cross sector engagement for all participants.

Examples include developing the programme for the first ‘What is Urban’ event for Punch; a conference exploring young people’s understanding of urban culture. Hybrid worked with Arts in Sandwell to produce the ‘Tools for Change’ conference which focused on social inclusion and the arts. Hybrid also has considerable experience of event planning, such as the Black History Month launch Birmingham 2005, 2004, 2003; Sound It Out’s 10th Anniversary: Celebrating a cross section of work; and the Playing Without Borders event at Symphony Hall featuring refugee musicians.

Due to our extensive experience, Hybrid has been able to successfully respond to a range of challenges. One example of this was a 3.5 week deadline to co-ordinate a mid-scale children’s consultation exercise. This was achieved by the production of a large festival in seven venues over one weekend. This included identifying artists, co-ordinating and arranging publicity, setting up training and evaluation days, managing the budget and facilitating the documentation and production of an evaluatory accompanying CD.

4. Artist Led Research & Development; Mentoring

Hybrid provides an advisory, mentoring and coaching support service to individual artists and has worked with approaching 100 artists in such a capacity. We develop artists understanding of defining one’s vision, creating applicable strategy, marketing and person support, considering finances and core values in one’s work ethics and approach.

Hybrid is frequently asked to carry out research into the needs of artists. Examples have included research into the needs of Asian communities and Asian artists in Walsall, the development of pilot projects for the Arts Council in the South West in addition to research into the needs of South Asian Crafts Practitioners in the region.

Hybrid has undertaken grassroots research, developed strategic interventions with arts organisations and community groups, reviewed findings through artist’s interviews, focus groups and engagement and consulted with a wide range of stakeholders involved in wide ranging projects.

5. Audience Development

Hybrid has been involved in a range of audience development initiatives. The company has consistently provided rooted research which considers the needs of all stakeholders. We have worked with a range of clients to ascertain best communication methods for accessing new audiences. Hybrid carefully considers the many variables that may play a role in preventing or discouraging individuals’ engagement. Hybrid works to identify arts activity that interests and engages specified target groups whilst also considering clients own needs and visions.

6. Social Inclusion/ Community Cohesion: Brokering relationships – developing Partnerships

As a producing/curating company, Hybrid picks up on issues within the social environment and enables challenging thinking through innovative participation. A key aim for the work is that it questions and pushes at mainstream representations through experiential work that is guided by artist’s provocative approaches and new, transformational, relationships.

With a strong understanding of the on-going debates relating to social inclusion and community cohesion agendas, Hybrid is well positioned to develop work in these areas. The company has experience of working with funding bodies, local authorities, community groups and arts organisations to deliver research which identifies suitable partners and areas of best practice.

7. Developing organisational culture: training & resource development

Hybrid is experienced in delivering training and resource development; examples include Gallery 37’s intensive five week artists’ training course relating to youth work and the arts, Flying Start’s six month placement and participatory arts practice and the Youth Art Network, Yorkshire’s Youth Work and Arts training qualification.

We also carry out organisational training focusing in particular on participatory arts, working with Black and minority ethnic communities (including refugees and asylum seekers), Black and minority ethnic artists’ development as well as strategies for engagement with audiences through long term development.

Within organisational development, information is carefully analysed within the context of the research and a comprehensive report produced utilising themes and structures of most benefit to the client. Follow on work has included establishing steering groups, project development alongside the production and curation of new work.