Arts Collaboratory is a programme for the support of visual art initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It provides financial support, facilitates knowledge sharing, and promotes networking and artistic exchange. It was established in January 2007 by Hivos and DOEN Foundation. These two Dutch organisations joined forces (pooling resources, knowledge and networks) in Arts Collaboratory to achieve greater effectiveness, efficiency and synergies.
In 2011, an external evaluation of the programme took place. Based on the outcomes and recommendations of this exercise as well as on new insights and policies of our respective organisations Hivos and DOEN, the programme of Arts Collaboratory has been re-designed and adapted. The mission of Arts Collaboratory is to promote sustainable, collaborative and open visual arts practicesthat contribute to social innovation For the period 2013 to 2015 the objectives of the Arts Collaboratory programme will be:
The improvement of the quality of artistic expression and collaborative art practices through independent (visual) arts organisations;The promotion of the development of social innovation and of new forms of engagement with publics through independent visual arts organizations.
The mission and vision of Arts Collaboratory are based on the idea that culture can potentially be a driving force or trigger in processes of social innovation. This type of innovation aims at challenging and changing the social interaction of people, and their interaction to their environment.