Art is Social. Art is a Catalyst.
In the wake of the pandemic and its profound impact on San Francisco, Silvie—founder of Arts Humanitas—reflected on what had sustained her spirit throughout her life. She returned to the constants that had always renewed her: a childhood immersed in painting, the creative energy she experienced while writing her published thesis on art therapy, and the deep inspiration she drew from her community of artist-friends.
Recognizing that art has the power to uplift, connect us to something greater, and help us make sense of the world through lived experience, she felt called to share this regenerative force with others. From this conviction, Arts Humanitas was born.
VISION
We envision a world where people who seek inspiration, value direct experience, and embrace reflection can access moments of awe, meaning, and genuine connection.
MISSION
Arts Humanitas hosts events with living artists and facilitates meaningful conversations that help us understand our own lives through artworks and the creative process. We thoughtfully curate intimate art salons and are preparing a biennale scheduled for April 2027, offering a platform for both established and emerging artists.
Through this work, we bring together engaged thought leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, visionaries, and philosophers—inviting rich cultural experiences into their lives and inspiring a renewed sense of hope for the future within the broader public.
CORE VALUES
Immersion: Engaging deeply with works of art enriches our quality of life and expands our understanding of the human experience within the natural world.
Community: Coming together around art sparks meaningful conversations, cultivates mutual understanding, and creates moments of shared joy.
Stewardship: Caring for the human spirit—and supporting those who nurture it—builds resilient communities where people can thrive together, even in times of challenge.
We are a committed group of art supporters who recognize the importance of art in society.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Adrian Danieli
A human being, an engineer with a deep passion for creating software, crafting musical experiences, forming meaningful friendships, and striving to enhance the quality of our community.
Helene Thibieroz
Climate Veteran, Vitabios, Cleantech Open, Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Micha Beoniol
Serial VC-backed Entrepreneur, Nodle.io, Firechat, Open Garden
Bianca Beatty, Chair
The Founder and CEO of a boutique digital marketing agency Raven + Co. LLC, Head of Marketing for TEDxAI
TEAM
Art Salon at Vienna Contemporary (pictured above)
Silvie Hibdon, Founder & Executive Director
Passionate about the arts, the human spirit, and the power of community, Silvie founded Arts Humanitas to cultivate a deeper and continually evolving connection to art. She believes that the artistic process reminds us of our innate creativity, sensitivity, and beauty. As the organization’s founder, Silvie leads the mission and vision of Arts Humanitas, bringing the project to life through directing the event production, community-building, and digital storytelling.
Prior to launching Arts Humanitas, Silvie’s commitment to creativity and community engagement led her to organize challenges and facilitate design-thinking initiatives for OpenIDEO, an IDEO program focused on addressing complex environmental and climate challenges. Her events regularly sold out, were hosted at co-working spaces across San Francisco and at Stanford University, and attracted City of San Francisco officials as well as executives from prominent organizations.
Em Havens, former Design Lead at IDEO and now at Deloitte, described Silvie’s leadership and impact:
“Silvie is a mover and a shaker and shines as one of our fellows in San Francisco. I often reference her work in San Francisco as a best practice. She has a great spirit, a way to motivate people to join her, and has started a volunteer training program within her San Francisco community. She’s mentored other facilitators and secured local partnerships for her community. As a fellow, she’s one of the very best.”te
Tejal Shah, Treasurer and Secretary
Tejal has extensive experience in fundraising, outreach, partnerships, and a strong background in finance and operations. As an entrepreneur, she has advised numerous tech startups in San Francisco and contributed to the tech ecosystem as a limited partner at venture firms such as Halogen Ventures and Refractor Capital. She is a force of nature, a 2nd degree black belt, and a ‘permanent resident of outside the box,’ as she describes herself.
Jan Hu
Marketing and Communications Manager
Pratibha Singh
Project Manager, Events & Curatorial
Alona Kagan
Advisory Art Consultant
FOUNDING DONORS
Lalo Davis, Arun Bordoloi, Adrian Danieli, Olga Collins, John Balbach, Tehal Shah, Nathalie Brochstein, Peter Fowler, William Nighan, Josh Baillon, Bianca Beatty, Roys Gureli, Elle Shelley Black, Carla Rz, Dana Hermanssen, Ryan Medeiros.
