Art is Social. Art is a Catalyst.

Recognizing that art has the power to uplift, connect us to something greater, and help us make sense of the world through artfully expressed experience, we 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 lived 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 spirit of all living beings—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.

Silvie Hibdon - Founder & Chairwoman of the Board

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.”

Helene Thibieroz - Board Member, Advisory
Climate Veteran, Vitabios, Cleantech Open, Sustainable Ocean Alliance

Tejal Shah - Treasurer and Secretary, Board Member

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.

Jan Hu - Marketing and Communications

Jan Hu (she/her) is a Chinese American multimedia artist and educator based in San Francisco. Jan’s background in science education and research, combined with growing up active outdoors, has shaped a lasting curiosity about materials, place, and the natural environment. She is interested in material as a way of understanding our connection to the earth and the environments around us. Materials come from specific places and carry the marks of natural processes, labor, and time, informing both Jan’s creative practice and their approach to clear, accessible communication. As Marketing and Communications Managaer for the San Francisco Biennale, Jan supports artists and curatorial teams through thoughtful, inclusive outreach that invites broad public engagement. Across their work, Jan aims to connect research, lived experience, and observation, making complex ideas feel grounded, human, and approachable.

Stu Nolan - Community Development

Stu Nolan (they/them) is a queer writer and producer living on the unceded Ohlone lands of Oakland, California. They are interested in the intersection of community engagement, storytelling, and environmental stewardship and the ways we can deepen our connections with one another and with the more-than-human world. From arts non-profits, to public media, to podcasting, Stu's work has brought them into organizations including: ITVS, RadioWest KUER, Voxtopica, Sundance Film Festival, and 826 Valencia. Whether the medium is soil or stories, they are passionate about working collaboratively to seed a future where living beings thrive.

Their creative work explores the dynamic interactions between internal and external environments, ecological kinships, and emotional landscapes. Stu's first chapbookFor The Compost won the 2022 Flume Press Chapbook Contest judged by José Antonio Rodríguez, and their work has been published by Arcturus Magazine, GirlsRightTheWorld, Leopardskin & Limes, Scribendi, and by Humans and Nature Digital Press. Their poems appear in the anthologies In The Garden: Community Storytelling on Food, Ecology, and Place published by Torrey House Press, and in Distilled Devotion: A Trans Poetry Anthology.

Fiona Duong - Community Development

Fiona works in communications and design, with experience across arts, humanities, education, and community organizations. She focuses on storytelling and visual content that help programs and nonprofit organizations share their work in clear and engaging ways. Her background spans digital content, events, and creative projects that support learning, culture, and public engagement.

She holds a master’s degree in Integrative Biology, studying plant anatomy and ecophysiology in relation to climate, and is native to the SF Bay Area. She brings an interdisciplinary perspective to her work, blending analytical thinking with creativity, and is especially interested in how arts and humanities initiatives can foster connection and meaningful dialogue.

Thank you to our Amazing Donors & Grants!

GRANTS
Center for Cultural Innovation, Los Angeles, CA

FOUNDING PRIVATE 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.