Creative Process & Contemplative Arts

Timing, intuition, awareness, creativity—navigating skillfully through complex relationships and shifting environments is an art that leaders must practice every day. ALIA programs use performance, martial, and contemplative arts to strengthen and deepen the foundation of authentic leadership. Artists-in-residence collaborate with other faculty, lead their own workshops, and enliven group events. In addition, evening performances contribute celebratory highlights to the program schedule.

A team of professional artists who also have a long-standing mindfulness practice have played a key role in developing ALIA’s unique approach. These artists use their medium to help leaders

• align mind and body, for greater presence and accuracy
• loosen up the way we think, see, and act; expand our horizons and deepen our sensibilities
• engage those parts of us that are often overshadowed by the demands of our work; for example, our intuitive, emotional, and creative capacities

For many who attend ALIA programs, the creative process sessions are an unexpected highlight. The artists invite us to bring more aspects of ourselves into our life and work, for greater depth, joy, humanity, and engagement.

See also ALIA’s Little Book of Practice, especially chapters 4 and 5.