The Seeding Change Institute
The Seeding Change Institute is an initiative by Pangea World Theater's Lake Street Arts! program and funded by The Jerome Foundation to create a generative, supportive institute for artists to strengthen their skills and critical approach to making socially engaged Art in any genre. The Seeding Change Institute is developed for artists by artists and those working in the arts. The Seeding Change Institute seeks to connect artists to a larger community, to a deeper understanding of the role of the artist in social transformation and to each other.
Outside of MFA programs there are very few opportunities for artists to spend time in a collective setting developing new skills and the rigor to ask big questions about their work and role as an artist. Isolation is a central tenet of this society and this is true for artists as well. SCI seeks to create a space where artistic community is fostered and participants are supported and challenged to grow in their artistic practice.
The facilitators for The Seeding Change Institute are Lake Street Arts! Curator and artist Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe and writer, performance artist, public artist, and community builder and Miré Regulus.
The Seeding Change Institute
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Six to ten-person cohort, at least half of whom are emerging artists
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Any genre of art, theater, dance, film, performance
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Offers workshops, conversations, hands-on learning with guest artists
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Requires two day commitment per month for the duration of the 6-month institute
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The focus is on being in a place of deep inquiry
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Each cohort member will develop a small scale or seed of a larger project alone or in collaboration with other cohort members
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There will be opportunities for the cohort to share their work with a larger audience and to have their work well documented
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The projects do not need to be large scale and can also be the jumping off place for a larger project to develop
Applications for 2027 are open!
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October 30, 2026 — Applications Due
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November 18, 2026 — 2027 Cohort Notified
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Each cohort member will be paid a $3,000 artist fee
2026 Cohort
Dr. Joi Lewis, Mason Persons, Juan Diego Pérez La Cruz, Patti Kameya, Sarah Duncan Keegan Xavi along with SCI facilitators Miré Regulus and Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe have been in deep inquiry and generative creativity together since January 2026.
Facilitated by Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe and Miré Regulus
2025 Cohort
Griffen Jeffries, Amina Abdel-Jelil, Ty Chapman, Harry Waters Jr., Barbara Tilsen, Stayci Bell, River Hollows, Liqing Xu, Whitney Terrill, Rupa Shenoy-Thadhani
Facilitated by Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe and Miré Regulus
2023 Research & Creation Cohort
Our initial cohort invited ten artists and arts organizers to take part in a year-long Seeding Change Research and Creation Cohort to help us envision the institute.
back row Va-Megn Thoj, Arleta Little, Diane Wilson, Ellen Marie Hinchcliffe (Curator), Michael Kleber-Diggs, Neeraj Mehta, Sarah Greer
front row Diana Siegel-Garcia, Soyini Guyton, Meena Natarajan (Curator),
Sharon Day, Dipankar Mukherjee (Curator), Sandra Agustin
Dear Seeding Change Team,
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Seeding Change Cohort 2026. I can honestly say that it has been one of the most enriching and meaningful experiences I have had within an arts program. Throughout the years, I have participated in many artistic and community-based initiatives, both as an artist and educator, but I believe there is something truly unique about the methodology and spirit behind Seeding Change. Bringing together people from such different backgrounds, disciplines, histories, and artistic approaches creates an environment that opens entirely new possibilities for collaboration, understanding, and connection. It expands not only the way we think about art, but also the way we understand what it means to be an artist in relationship with others.
For me personally, this experience strengthened my connection to community and reaffirmed many ideas I have been reflecting on regarding collective artistic practice. I felt genuinely heard. I was able to speak openly about concerns and experiences that deeply affect me, while also sharing ideas and projects that are important to my practice. What moved me most was the generosity and openness that everyone brought into the space. There was a shared willingness to support one another, to help each other grow, and to understand collective success as something interconnected. That spirit of mutual care and solidarity is something I will carry with me moving forward.
I am deeply thankful for the professionalism, care, generosity, and intentionality with which the program was facilitated. The space you created allowed vulnerability, experimentation, and meaningful dialogue to coexist in a very powerful way. I also want to extend my admiration and congratulations to all the participants, whose presence, stories, and perspectives made this experience even more meaningful. Thank you again for everything. This experience truly meant a great deal to me.
With deep appreciation,
Arq.Juan Diego Pérez La Cruz