hey, we need
to talk…
designing relational and artful spaces for transformative conversations.
creating social sculptures in which humans connect and form relationships that transform society.
connecting people who would not normally meet in compassionate, essential, and humanizing dialogue.
catalyzing curiosity, action, generosity, passion, empathy, and ingenuity.
what people are saying
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“I have heard the word 'phenomenal' more than a few times from various participants reflecting on the evening. From the beautifully inviting prompts, to the typewriter poets, to the graphic recording artist who captured the spirit of the night — every detail was just so well done. It was a beautiful and vital point of reconnection for our community!”
— Barbara Eghan, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Georgetown Day School
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"Philippa and her team went above and beyond to create a dynamic event for thought leaders in DC. The event took the topic of AI and the political economy and infused artistic expression and creativity to create an immersive and differentiated experience. Attendees who frequent many DC events remarked, “Wait, why is this so cool?” Her event planning team executed all facets of the evening, down to the smallest details, and on a tight three-week timeline. They took the initiative to execute a top notch event with professionalism, thoughtfulness and true partnership. I enthusiastically recommend Curiosity Connects Us Events."
— Chrissy Blitz, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, Economic Security Project
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“Artist Philippa Pham Hughes’s latest work is a massive dinner party bringing conservatives and liberals together ahead of the midterm elections.”
The artist Philippa Pham Hughes wants people from both sides of the political aisle to sit down and hash things out. America, it’s time we had a talk. In the lead up to the mid-term elections in the U.S., political discourse has become more polarized than ever.
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“This Clinton fan invited Trump supporters for dinner. healing divides isn’t so easy.”
Though Hughes does not live far from the white house, no one in her inner circle supported the nation’s 45th President. But on this evening, Hughes was hosting a dinner with six people on opposite sides of the country’s political divide.
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“Trump fans and foes break bread at Washington dinner party.”
It’s Tuesday night and Philippa Hughes is putting together the finishing touches on dinner. Hughes is hosting a dinner party for strangers to talk politics over pasta. It’s an idea that could very easily get messy, and maybe that’s only appropriate for an idea borne from a messy presidential election.
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“Across the country, liberals and conservatives are coming together at moderated dinners to understand each other better.”
After the 2016 election, Hughes, a Democrat, felt compelled to talk to Trump voters. The daughter of a conservative Vietnamese mother and a white father who was a lifelong union member, Hughes grew up in a working-class suburb of Richmond. But as an undergrad at the University of Virginia, she felt out of place.
current projects
blueberries + cherries
Blueberries + Cherries invited politically diverse guests to break bread and talk to each other face-to-face over a home cooked meal. The goal: to understand the things that influence our votes and to find ways to bridge the vast ideological gap that plagues our country. We engaged in civil discourse that is unfiltered by the lens of political punditry and by the anonymity and bias of social media.
looking for america
What does it mean to be American? How do different communities—in the Midwest, at the border, in cities and in rural areas—answer that question? In Looking for America, we invited local artists and community members across the United States of all backgrounds and political stripes to come together to share their stories and perspectives.
hey, we need to talk
In partnership with the Ann Arbor City Clerk’s Office, the Creative Campus Voting Project is collaborated with UMMA to turn the art museum into an election hub. In addition, visiting artist Philippa Hughes hosted dynamic and deeply engaging series Hey, We Need to Talk, creating space for authentic and honest conversations between politically diverse people.
philippa p.b. hughes
Philippa, founder of CuriosityConnects.us, is a Social Sculptor and Creative Strategist who produces art-fueled projects to spark humanizing and authentic conversations between people who might not normally meet. She has designed and produced hundreds of creative activations since 2007 for curious folks to engage with art and with one another in unconventional and meaningful ways.