Participatory Art/New Genre Public Art

In many neighborhoods of color as well as moderately income neighborhoods, the arts are either non-existent or limited to poorly funded school based programs. Even worst, when local or community based organizations attempt to provide art, they are required to comply with rigid agency requirements, high costs and little media exposure.

These overwhelming circumstances make art non-essential or a low priority in the very communities that need creativity the most.

“New genre public art” is different from object based “public art”. The public has nothing to do

with the first process whereas “new genre public art” is based on the relationship between the local space and the audience.

Great example is When Faith Moves Mountains by Francis Alys. In the arid desert of Peru, five hundred participants literally moved a sand dune ten centimeters during this installation. It was a project for the 2002 Lima Biennial and a commentary on

the country‘s transition from a dictatorship to democracy.

So, what can we do?

Mix traditional Public Art + Event-based Social Art

Getting public participation is

very difficult particularly when

more pressing human concerns

demand immediate attention.

Cultivating participation needs

to be underwritten partially.

City policies need to be a little

more flexible. And that does

not mean standards should be

lowered at all BUT the City of

New York is asking artists and

arts group take on TOO much

risk which limits small groups

and poorer neighborhoods

from engaging community

residents and visitors to art.

NRA/ERF acknowledges these

challenges and seeks to

alleviate some of these

burdens.

•Get NYCDPR & NYCDOT to work collaboratively with the community which includes

scheduling.

•Presently, multi-day special events permits are not allowed. Perhaps two day permits

could be allowed.

•Engineering studies are required by NYCDOT and quite expensive. NRA/ERF could

sponsor blanket insurance like the Times Square Alliance.

•Expedite the lengthy approval process which makes marketing and promotion difficult

(even if you submit a special events permit months in advance.

•Expedite outstanding capital contracts that would improve repairs and improvements.

Introduce

•Artists Residencies (paid time to develop projects)

•Artist Fellowships (merit based financial awards)

•Art making workshops for the public

•Art making workshops for artists

There is precedence in NYC & around the country

Creative Times 2010 Keys to the

City

John Malpede 2004 RFK in EKY