Our Roots
BuildaBridge was founded in 1997 by university colleagues, Drs. J. Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early, to bring the transforming power of art-making into communities.
The beginning
Art-making as a vehicle for transformation
From Eastern University colleagues to a first Institute in Costa Rica, the co-founders saw what trained, service-minded artists could set in motion.
BuildaBridge received 501(c)3 status in 2000. In 1997, BuildaBridge conducted its first learning Institute amongst 15 traumatized congregations in a dysfunctional and earthquake-ravaged community in Costa Rica.
From that experience, the co-founders saw what could happen when artists with the training and passion for service engage their art as a vehicle for transformation. This led, in 2001, to the implementation of an annual Philadelphia Institute for Arts in Transformation, which has now trained over 1,000 participants from Philadelphia and around the world to work with vulnerable populations through art-making.
Today BuildaBridge International continues the trail blazed by Drs. Corbitt and Nix-Early while also creating new and innovative paths to making the transformative power of art-making accessible to all.
During COVID, co-founder Vivian Nix-Early helped establish BuildaBridge’s Arts of Self-Care program.
Milestones
A trail from 1997 to today
Four dates that still shape the work: a founding, a first Institute, nonprofit status, and a training that now reaches the world.
1997
Founded
University colleagues Drs. J. Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early start BuildaBridge.
1997
Costa Rica Institute
The first learning Institute gathers 15 traumatized congregations in an earthquake-ravaged community.
2000
501(c)3 status
BuildaBridge is recognized as a nonprofit, formalizing the work of hope and healing through art-making.
2001
Philadelphia Institute
An annual Institute for Arts in Transformation begins—now having trained over 1,000 participants worldwide.
Today
The trail continues
BuildaBridge International follows the path the co-founders blazed and opens new ones so art-making can reach more people.
The book
Taking It to the Streets
A vocabulary for discussing art-making outside the sanctuary, and methods for bringing it into the streets of society.
Together they’ve written Taking It to the Streets (opens in a new tab), a historical perspective and theology for understanding the transforming power of art-making, a vocabulary for discussing it outside the sanctuary, and creative methods for bringing art-making to the streets of society.
While BuildaBridge was inspired by faith-based action, we grew to become ecumenical in scope showing up for all communities.
Faith, Food, and Art
Co-founder Vivian Nix-Early’s Faith, Food, and Art: Surviving Pandemics. During COVID, she helped establish BuildaBridge’s Arts of Self-Care program.
Next
From those roots to the work now
The Institute they started still trains artists and community leaders. Meet the people carrying that work forward.