In Tandem Arts

The raison d’etre of In Tandem Arts is to maximize collaborative capacity. ITA’s namesake explicitly states what we do - work in tandem with communities and individuals to create emergent art that could not exist without partnership. This thinking is embedded into every aspect of the framework of our projects. Through these projects, we shape culture with art that is based in narrative storytelling. Live storytelling may take the form of music, dance, theater, spoken word, immersive installations, the oral storytelling tradition, or hybrids of these disciplines. Therefore, ITA applies storytelling, performing arts, and design thinking to co-create new narratives with and within community. We do not create art that sets us apart ─ we do not create art where the most talented shine. We create art that galvanizes collective vision. Put simply, ITA uses the performing arts to incite agency and voice.

Our programs are designed to serve intergenerational cohorts; our services are inclusive of learners from primary school to adult. With an emphasis on intergenerational projects, ITA facilitates the creation of participatory projects in small batches. Therefore, our work arrives as mobile workshops and “labs” in which to 1) Develop and exercise voice, as well as explore framing devices for social commentary through a variety of mediums, AND 2) Foster collaborative fluency through facilitation and project design that prioritizes agency. These aspirations take the form of project-based experiences in 4 areas: 1) Public Programs - workshops, participatory events, or intensives that explore creative storytelling as a tool, 2) Artist-in-Residence - collaborate with classroom teachers, community leaders, and cultural organizations to create a “stage” in learning environments, 3) Consultancy- offer trainings, professional development, experiential opportunities, and cultural organizing by contract, 4) Productions - organize collaborative partnerships and community volunteers to create events that cross-pollinate schools, cultural groups, and communities.