Inter Arts Matrix

INTER ARTS MATRIX interartsmatrix.com
Anne-Marie Donovan, artistic director

Mission: Fostering the development and production of new work in interdisciplinary art.

Inter Arts Matrix is a not-for-profit charitable arts organization based in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. Founded in 2007, IAM’s mission is to educate and increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of interdisciplinary art forms, to assist the artist in developing interdisciplinary art and disseminating it to the public, and provide programs promoting interdisciplinary art. IAM’s activities include public performances, exhibitions, lectures, workshops, publications and outreach.

Whereas most arts organizations in the Waterloo Region emphasize the presentation of art, IAM’s emphasis is on supporting the artist through the entire creation process, from the conceptual stage to development, production, presentation, documentation and promotion. IAM can come in as needed at any stage and for any portion of an interdisciplinary project. While in some cases, IAM may be the presenter, it will often seek out partners or other presenters for the final presentation.

The Waterloo Region has a vibrant artistic community and an internationally dynamic high tech community. IAM brings together artists from different disciplines with specialists from fields such as the high tech sector, architecture, science and engineering, as well as trades people, working together and combining their talents towards a common goal. This cross-pollination results in art that is unique to the strengths of the Waterloo Region.

IAM also emphasizes art in public space and art works that go beyond interactivity to involving the public as active participants. In this way, we can intersect with any geographic location and audiences of any cultural orientation.

IAM promotes the work to audiences locally, nationally and internationally, acting as a cultural ambassador, not only for the region’s artists, but also for the Waterloo Region as a site for cultural creation and innovation.

In its first year (2007-08), IAM brought three projects to the public: Guerrilla Sound, Sounding Rituals and (((cocktail party effect))). IAM also assisted with the development of The Notebook Project (presented by the KW Art Gallery), Reaching For Nothing, Water’s Thirst (presented by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and NUMUS) and Frankenstein’s Ghosts (work-in-progress). In 2008-09, IAM has assisted in the development of three new projects: Opera P, the Euphonopen, and Schubert Now.