ArtCity is a collective impact movement that creates quantum change through art.
In 2015 ArtCity founder Charly Swing theorized that the work of creatives is essential in creating the sudden, dramatic, and enduring transformations (Quantum Change) needed for humanity to evolve at the rate that's required not only to meet the current environmental and divisive times, but to collectively shape how humanity evolves, and shapes our shared future.
This particular type of work is not done in isolation. Socially engaged artists work with people, including people in the process or inviting them to be engage in the work. The engagement is often part of the work itself.
As an example, the photo this text is written over was a public work created by Darryl Evans for a BRIDGE event in Eugene, Oregon. Free Your Soles was an installation of donated shoes. This work of art was not fenced off with "Do not touch signs". Quite the opposite; people were welcome to take shoes from the tree.
To the artist's surprise, people who took from the tree often gave shoes to the tree. Even without invitation, people came to the tree and voluntarily added to the collection as an act of giving and being part of the process.
Like this, project by project, socially engaged art has the potential to significantly impact, elevate, and shape our collective future by creating opportunities for sudden, dramatic, and enduring transformations.
ArtCity invites artists and community to reach out to us regarding their interest in being part of this transformational process.
Please read below to learn more about socially engaged art. Click the "SHARE YOUR INTEREST HERE" button to share your interest in socially engaged art with the founder of ArtCity. We're interested in hearing from you.
Darryl Evans, Free Your Soles, BRIDGE Project 2019 / Photo Credit: Charly Swing
What is
SOCIALLY ENGAGED ART?
Socially Engaged Art is an umbrella term for many different forms of artistic practice. Some examples include artistic activism, community based art, creative placemaking, cultural organizing, participatory art, social practice, and social sculpture.
Socially engaged artists do not act alone. Period.
Even if a project is conceived and primarily executed by an artist, s/he is always working in a larger context and environment. This brand of art making takes place in a dynamic ecosystem of interrelated roles
It uses “forms” and “materials” beyond those used in studio art and often operates outside of conventional nonprofit or commercial presentation settings and formats. The socially engaged artists’ toolkit includes dialogue, community organizing, placemaking, facilitation, public awareness campaigns or policy development, as well as theater games, art installations, music, participatory media-making, spoken word and other media.
Farhad Bahram and Shannon Mockli Intersecting Bodies, 2018 / Photo Credit: Pam Cressall
METHODS & STRATEGIES
The creation process often involves artists working in collaboration with community members, other sectors, or other artists. The artwork, therefore, is usually not an expression of one person’s singular creative vision but the result of a relational, collaborative process. The process of creating the work is often a core part of the artistic “product.” For example, if an artist’s desired “product” is stronger social ties in a neighborhood or mobilizing a community to actively engage in a political process, the “artwork” may be the actions relating to fostering meaningful relationships or demystifying civic processes, made possible by unconventional thinking and new, creative approaches.
Activist methods are as salient as conventional aesthetics. The work may include subject matter that addresses social, political or economic issues, but it doesn’t have to.
Who-based projects may pivot on broad participation from community members, and/or reflect the cultural expression and identities of people excluded from the mainstream. Examples include community-based art, participatory art, and work generated in specific cultural traditions.
WHO
Issue-based projects focus on raising awareness about an issue or changing the way it’s understood. Artists may use commercial or mass culture platforms. Pop justice is one example.
ISSUE
The work of Place-based art is motivated by affecting the conditions of a particular geography. Civic goals like health, safety, or economic growth may be central, along with cross-sector partnerships.
Creative placemaking and civic practice could be described this way.
PLACE
Change-based, activist methods are as salient as conventional aesthetics. Projects seek tangible change in social, political, or economic conditions.
Possible examples include legislative art and cultural organizing.
CHANGE
Socially engaged or community based art requires artistic and “social” skills. Like artistic skills, many of the social skills are intuitive and not easily defined.
Social skills may include: Cultural competency • Listening with respect •
Power analysis • Policymaking • Knowing multiple languages • “Human” relation skills like empathy, reciprocity, humor • Ability to deal with delicate power dynamics • Meeting facilitation • Fundraising • Relationship / partnership building • Organizing / leadership
THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
INTENSIONS
The primary consideration for an artist or a funder with regard to socially engaged work is intention — what are you trying to do and who is it for? There may be multiple intentions for a single project, but it is critical that there is a match between project goals and design.
Effective socially engaged work must be iterative and evolve in response to the community’s input. The ‘studio artist’ has complete agency over the process and the outcome. An artist conducting ‘social practice’ may consult with the community along the way, but the artist retains ultimate control over the process and result.
SKILLS
Socially engaged or community based art requires artistic and “social” skills. Like artistic skills, many of the social skills are intuitive and not easily defined.
Social skills may include: Cultural competency • Listening with respect • Power analysis • Policymaking • Knowing multiple languages • “Human” relation skills like empathy, reciprocity, humor • Ability to deal with delicate power dynamics • Meeting facilitation • Fundraising • Relationship / partnership building • Organizing / leadership
Socially engaged art involves working with human beings, often in communities that have been historically disadvantaged or discriminated against. Social and community-based art practice does not yet have formal code of conduct. Artists who have been working in communities for a long time observe these general principle codes of conduct in their work: Humility – Honoring the knowledge and traditions of the people and place, and being aware of your biases and what you might not know. Honest inquiry and deep listening – Asking people what they want and being aware.
ETHICS
Socially engaged art can vary greatly, depending on what makes sense for each artist and context. There are nine attributes around which socially engaged art typically varies, and these can be used to identify and sort work. Each individual project or body of work can be placed somewhere along each of the following spectrums.
NINE ATTRIBUTES
DURATION
WORK ORIGINATION
ISSUE
INFLUENCE DIRECTION
ARTIST ORIGIN
WORK DEFINITION
CITED RESOURCES
Information on this page is attributed to #ArtMakingChange and in part to Helping Culture [create change]. This is a brief summary of Helicon Collaboration's extensive information and study on socially engaged art, it is not a replacement.
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