How do I create arts-Health partnerships? Part I
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve had ideas for arts-based programs that could support the health of a community or population...
...But you also know that this kind of work involves partnering with people from different institutions and sectors, who have different backgrounds, priorities, interests, etc.
Which means that converting your brilliant ideas into reality requires connecting across a bunch of differences to build partnerships. And this has left you asking,
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?
This is probably the question I get asked most often. There are so many answers that I’m creating an online course about it (keep an eye out for that here!).
But I want to share a few answers via the ol’ blog, to help get you started. How ‘bout a 3-part series?
3 STRATEGIES (SUPERPOWERS) FOR BUILDING “ARTS AND HEALTH” PARTNERSHIPS
Bridging differences isn’t easy, and no blog series will make it a breeze. BUT! As someone who’s a career artist and a health scientist, an entrepreneur and an academic, I do spend every day straddling multiple disciplines and sectors.
And 3 strategies (I prefer “superpowers”) serve me well:
Find Out What They Value
Over the next few blogs, we’ll look at building these 3 superpowers. Cool? Let’s dig in.
Part I: Find out what they value
Often, when my clients ask me about how to build partnerships, they’ve already presented some super-compelling facts to relevant decision-makers.
Like they’ve provided details about their program, shared data about its potential positive health effects, even shown off how well they manage projects and budgets... Yet they’re still not getting anywhere.
It’s frustrating, and I get it. I’ve been there. It’s discouraging to have such a clear idea of how you could be helping people, but then be unable to move the needle.
So what are we supposed to do? How do we get other people to see the value in partnering with us?
I’ll answer that with a question. Ok, with two questions, and they’re the first ones I ask my clients:
What is your would-be partner already working hard to do?
What problems are they currently dealing with, that your program will help them solve?
Most of my clients answer these questions by saying their would-be partner (let’s go with WBP for short) wants or should want to support people’s wellbeing.
And beyond that assumption, answers thin out. Clients wind up being like, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
And look, no judgment here! Like I said, I’ve been there.
We’d all love to believe that our WBPs are strictly motivated by supporting their participants’ wellbeing...And that therefore, every opportunity to do so will get a hearty welcome. Awesome! No other intel needed!
But the reality is, such opportunities usually cost WBPs money, time, and/or staff capacity that they’re already spending on other things. Plus, many WBPs think they’re already doing plenty to support wellbeing. In these cases, moving forward with your program or idea isn’t a clear win.
And here’s the thing. It has to be a clear win. To them.
So how do you make it a clear win?
You have to see things from their perspective.
When communicating about your work, you can’t focus (just) on what you love about it or why you think it’s important and helpful. You have to see your work from your WBP’s perspective.
You have to know something about their world, and about how your proposal is likely to sound and feel to them in the context of that world. You have to give them something they can latch onto, that taps into their lens and experience.
In short, you have to find out what they value.
The question is not, “How can I get them to invite, value, fund, or help me?”
The question is, “How does what I’m doing help them?”
Notice that I’m not saying you should change your program or idea to match a WBP’s values or needs. Great partnerships do breed innovation, so sometimes you might wind up changing something. But that’s not the guidance I’m giving here.
What I’m saying is, if you want to appeal to a new collaborator, you have to figure out: How does my program or idea help them do what they’re trying to do?
Your answers will be different for every WBP, even as your program or idea stays consistent.
BREAKING IT DOWN
So, quick review.
To create connections, you have to find out what your WBP values, and show that an arts-health partnership can be a win for them.
To do that, you want to ask:
What is my WBP already working hard to do?
What problems are they currently dealing with, that my program can help them solve?
How does what I’m doing help them? (How will my program or idea help them do what they’re trying to do?)
Once you answer these questions, you’ll be able to determine whether your program actually aligns with your WBP and their goals.
If it does, you’re ready to begin communicating based on that alignment. (Want help with communication specifics? That’s #3 in this series. Stay tuned!)
If it doesn’t, you’ll probably want to move on. Trying to convince a WBP to shift their values so that they’ll recognize your value is a time-suck, my friends. A black hole. Spend your precious energy elsewhere.
(Alternatively, you may need to make changes. Sometimes the “problem” isn’t a partner that won’t come around, but a program that’s not ready for real-world application. It’s ok to go back to the drawing board—perhaps with your WBP as a co-creator.)
Either way, you’ve got this.
When you get good at seeing your work through the lens of your WBPs, you’ll start moving that needle on your arts and health work.
Next Steps!
For all you thinkers and doers trying to connect with a new partner or collaborator, I’ve made you a free handy workbook with questions you’ll want to answer. Snag it here and dig in!
The more details you generate, the better. The time you spend on these questions will pay you back in new ideas and in the cred you’ll build when WBPs see that you know and share their concerns!
Once you complete the workbook, you’ll have a great foundation for connecting with WBPs... and we’ll build on it in Parts 2 and 3.
See you then!
PS. If you need help with a partnership you’re creating, or if you want to bring a communications or arts+health talk to your org or community, book a 1:1 call or check out the workshops page here.