# 194: Liz Lerman: The Horizontal, the Critical, and the Heretic's Path

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/art-is-change-strategies-skills-for-activist-artists-cultural-organizers-917696/194-liz-lerman-the-horizontal-the-critical-and-the-heretic-s-path
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/art-is-change-strategies-skills-for-activist-artists-cultural-organizers-917696/194-liz-lerman-the-horizontal-the-critical-and-the-heretic-s-path.md
Podcast: [ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/art-is-change-strategies-skills-for-activist-artists-cultural-organizers-917696)
Published: 2026-09-09T11:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://change-the-story-chan.captivate.fm/episode/194-liz-lerman
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/a14dc4bb-049d-4d4d-87fd-849d37d79bd6.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3284

## Resource

Can an artist who comes from outside a community become an effective partner in creating change? That was the question we explored in an earlier episode of our Building Blocks of Effective Community Arts Practice series. And in our recent conversation with Eric Gottesman, we heard one compelling answer. His experiences in Ethiopia—and later with For Freedoms—taught him to stop acting as the sole author and begin making work with communities through questions, shared authority, and collective storytelling. Our next guest, choreographer and community artist Liz Lerman, takes that conversation further. Through what she calls “the horizontal,” she shows us how artists can bring their knowledge into a community without placing it above everyone else’s. In this episode, we explore: The Horizontal — how leadership and expertise can be shared without disappearing. Critical Response — a feedback practice built around curiosity, consent, and respect. The Heretic’s Path — how artists can challenge established systems while staying in relationship with them. So, as you listen, consider what becomes possible when expertise is joined by humility, curiosity, and a willingness to share power. Notable Mentions Dance Exchange : (Previously, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange) Fueled by generosity and curiosity, Dance Exchange expands who gets to dance, where dance happens, what dance is about, and why dance matters. Dance Exchange harnesses the power of creativity and inquiry through dance to connect communities, to deepen our understanding of ourselves and to foster a more embodied, resilient and just world. Critical Response Process : Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process is a method for giving and getting feedback on work in progress, designed to leave the maker eager and motivated to get ba…

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