*Facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences* ![[tr-ee-rFAXL0.png|200]] https://tr.ee/rFAXL0 --- This widely-recognized method nurtures the development of artistic works-in-progress through a four-step, facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. ### **Process** The Critical Response Process takes place after a presentation of artistic work. Work can be short or long, large or small, and at any stage in its development. ### **Roles** The Process engages participants in three roles: 1. The **artist** offers a work-in-progress for review and feels prepared to question that work in a dialogue with other people; 2. **Responders**, committed to the artist’s intent to make excellent work, offer reactions to the work in a dialogue with the artist; and 3. The **facilitator** initiates each step, keeps the process on track, and works to help the artist and responders use the Process to frame useful questions and responses. ### **Core Steps** The facilitator then leads the artist and responders through four steps: 1. **Statements of Meaning:** Responders state what was meaningful, evocative, interesting, exciting, striking in the work they have just witnessed. Discomforts, doubts, and negative opinions are withheld until the appropriate opportunities later in the Process. 2. **Artist as Questioner:** The artist asks questions about the work. Responders answer being mindful to stay on topic with the question.. Responders may express opinions if they are in direct response to the question asked and do not contain suggestions for changes. 3. **Neutral Questions:** Responders ask neutral questions about the work. The artist responds. Questions are _neutral_ when they do _not_ have an opinion couched in them. For example, if you are discussing the lighting of a scene, “Why was it so dark?” is not a neutral question. “What ideas guided your choices about lighting?” is. 4. **Opinion Time:** Responders state opinions, subject to permission from the artist. The usual form is “I have an opinion about ______, would you like to hear it?” The artist has the option to say no. --- Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process™ ©2002 The Dance Exchange, Inc. All Rights Reserved. _Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process: A method for getting useful feedback on anything you make from dance to dessert_ by Liz Lerman and John Borstel offers a comprehensive overview of the process, its inner workings and variations. Soft cover and electronic versions are available at Amazon.