External practices


Heads, Hearts, Hands

What is it?

The Heads, Hearts, and Hands approach is a practice popularized by Dr. Jane Vella, an educator and author who focused on adult learning and the development of holistic education strategies. 

It focuses on developing three key areas of intelligence to promote well-rounded growth: intellectual (Head), emotional (Heart), and practical (Hands). These three elements help individuals engage in learning, problem-solving, and action in a balanced way, addressing the cognitive, emotional, and practical dimensions of human experience.

Heads (cognitive aspect)

This part refers to the knowledge, thinking, and intellectual understanding that come from your mind. It involves critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to understand complex ideas. It is about acquiring knowledge, reasoning through problems, and making informed decisions.

Hearts (emotional aspect)

This part represents the emotional and relational aspects of learning. It involves fostering empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence. It highlights the importance of understanding feelings, forming meaningful connections with others, and developing a strong sense of purpose or motivation. The heart encourages emotional awareness and helps people relate to their work or learning on a deeper, more personal level.

Hands (practical aspect)

This part refers to the practical application of knowledge and emotions in real-world scenarios. It emphasizes action, skills development, and the ability to implement ideas. This is about putting what is learned into practice, whether through physical tasks, hands-on projects, or engaging in community and professional activities that require applied skills.

How to use it?

To use this practice in your learning or work, try following these steps to balance your thinking, emotions, and actions:

Engage your head (thinking)

Engage your heart (feeling)

Engage your hands (action)

Examples in arts and culture

1. Pandemic

Let’s consider a disabled artists collective using the Heads, Hearts, Hands approach to envision a more caring, inclusive, and accessible future in the arts and culture sector post-pandemic.

Heads: Intellectual understanding
Hearts: Emotional connection
Hands: Practical action

2. Racism and economic inequality

Let’s consider a young Black poet-musician who is navigating the challenges of racism and economic inequality while trying to create and share their art in a world that limits access to affordable housing, performance spaces, and publishing opportunities. Using the Heads, Hearts, and Hands approach, they can begin to strategize a path forward in their journey toward greater equity and expression.

Heads: Intellectual understanding
Hearts: Emotional connection
Hands: Practical action

 

 

Three Horizons

What is it?

The Three Horizons framework was developed by Bill Sharpe as a tool for thinking about the future. It helps individuals and organizations explore different future scenarios and plan for change.

The framework divides future possibilities into three "horizons" or time frames:

The purpose of the Three Horizons framework is to help people recognize and plan for the different stages of change that might unfold. Horizon 1 represents the status quo, Horizon 2 is where things begin to shift, and Horizon 3 is where the future could look radically different. By analyzing these horizons, organizations and individuals can better navigate the complexity of change, recognize opportunities, and prepare for future challenges.

How to use it?

Map the situation (Horizon 1)

Envision radical futures (Horizons 3)

Adapting the practice

The Three Horizons framework can be adapted to reflect a perspective based on the Past, Present, and Future to better understand the evolution of systems or organizations over time.

Past (Horizon 1)

Present (Horizon 2)

Future (Horizon 3)

Examples in arts and culture

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on gig workers in the arts and culture sector, affecting how they work, their income, and the opportunities available to them. By applying the adapted Three Horizons framework, we can understand the evolution of gig work in the arts and culture industry and how it might shape the future.

Past (Horizon 1)
Present (Horizon 2)
Future (Horizon 3)

Climate Crisis

The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time, and youth in the arts and culture sector are increasingly playing a significant role in raising awareness and driving change. By applying the adapted Three Horizons framework, we can explore how young people in the arts have engaged with the climate crisis and how they may shape future cultural movements related to climate action.

Past (Horizon 1)
Present (Horizon 2)
Future (Horizon 3)