Collaboration is a key element that defines our arts community. Over the past year alone, 21 arts organizations brought together by The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro’s New Creative Investment sustainability cohorts have driven 89 partner interactions—a testament to the power of working together.
These partnerships extend beyond the arts sector, building bridges with businesses, municipal agencies, multicultural organizations, local colleges, and Guilford County Schools. The arts are more than creative expression; they are a driving force for the greater good in Greater Greensboro. Sustainable partnerships are the key to creating lasting impact.
What does this look like in action?
- Greensboro Bound works with Guilford County Schools, Scuppernong Books, NC A&T, UNC Greensboro, Casa Azul, and Historic Magnolia House to bring world-class literature and year-round literacy programs to our community.
- Creative Aging Network-NC collaborates with Mustard Seed Community Health, FaithAction International, the Montagnard Dega Association, and more to bring mission-driven arts to aging populations.
- The Carolina Theatre stands as a community resource, partnering with organizations like The Poetry Project, Greensboro Opera, and The Music Academy to make the arts more accessible and affordable.
And the list could go on. It all comes back to building relationships, creating organizational longevity and impact through shared goals.
This work being done by our arts community is a movement. Through this movement, we will continue to shape a future where we are better together. Art is not just an experience, but a sweeping wind bringing unity, opportunity, and transformation.
To build on this momentum, The ACGG is hosting a collaboration leadership workshop led by Jada Harris, CEO of Social Designs, to draw together the arts community. Designed for sustainability cohort members, grassroots organizations, and community arts leaders, this session will deepen our collective understanding of collaboration—how to define it, strengthen it, and use it to overcome challenges like funding, space, and resource limitations.
Through guided discussions, role-playing, and real-world examples, participants will explore trust-based philanthropy, formalized partnerships, and strategies for building meaningful, long-term alliances. The goal? To equip arts organizations with the tools they need to thrive and grow.
Together, we are proving that when the arts intersect broadly across sectors, the possibilities for growth, understanding, and innovation is limitless
