Here I listed my personal take-aways from past experiences. Also you’ll find some projects that resulted from collabs.
#1 Have a deadline
Everybody is busy and time is precious. That’s why a noncommercial art project should be treated the same way as a day job is. With agendas for meetings and a reliable time schedule!
Search for deadlines, that could serve your collective, for example a date until you have to apply for funding or for participating in a festival.
Of course deadlines for final publication can be set arbitrarily, sometimes it can help to find a somewhat meaningful moment, like an internationally celebrated day that matches your purpose.
Together with my artist collective we participated at a berlin art festival with a sound/print installation about the smells of Berlin-Neukölln. Do I really want to smell Berlin-Neukölln?
#2 Like each other
It’s easy to start hating your best friends when accomplishing a common project. To have a deep connection is a good foundation to survive the struggles ahead together.
If you start a collaboration already with semi sympathy you’ll probably not end up with a outcome you can celebrate together.
Choose your team wisely!
My childhood friends and I wrote a rap song about female empowerment and its music video premiered on international women’s day. Ok, let me see it!
#3 Distribute responsibilities
Allow other collective’s members their field of specialization!
When working on our music video for example we decided soon after starting that each of us shall have a specific role: Styling Master, Video Supervisor, Brand Designer and Marketing Rockstar.
A choreographer of contemporary dance was looking for a multidisciplinary team to support her performance. I contributed with 2-channel projected visuals. What was the piece about?
#4 Accept unequal work load
Don’t be too surprised that some people will work more/less than others.
Talk about what you need and what you wish.
Nobody can be forced, everyone is in it voluntarily. Make peace with it.
#5 Agree on costs early on
Are there any funding opportunities?
Can the planned art work be created with less costly materials?
What is your maximum budget?
In 2018 my friends organized a group exhibition in Hamburg. I worked in a team of 4 on a generative video installation. How did it look like?
#6 Make it your project
Fight for your creative freedom within the project boundaries.
A voluntary project needs to be about self expression for each one of you.
In a group exhibition in a dusty basement of Berlin-Neukölln I presented my interactive piece „new bodies“ that explored female sexuality and pornography. Touch me deeply!
