“The common themes running through these definitions include the value of personal participation, holistic impacts on people’s lives, encouragement of dialogue between the individual and a work of art, and the role of art in building social capital. The definitions talk about the role of the artist or organization as well as “mediators” in assisting the public in understanding art and attaining greater self-expression and actualization through the transformative power of art.”
– Public Engagement in the Arts, 2012
Created by the Canada Council for the Arts, Public Engagement in the Arts takes a close look at Canadian engagement and participation in the arts. This discussion paper examines different definitions of public engagement and motivations for this type of work. Public Engagement in the Arts includes an overview of Canadian and international cultural policies that relate to public engagement. The paper also considers current trends and potential barriers, and concludes with comments on the Canada Council’s role in shaping current and future developments in public engagement.
“Many arts funders have longstanding commitments to equity of access to programs by artists and arts organizations; how are funders ensuring that the public also has access to content that is equitable in the sense of being from them and for them, without pandering or diluting the quality of the work?”
This resource will be useful to anyone who is interested in exploring or defining concepts of community engagement and participation in the arts, and understanding the context for current funding practices in Canada.
To learn more about the Canada Council for the Arts, please visit www.canadacouncil.ca. To learn more about Public Engagement in the Arts, please visit the ArtBridges Resource Portal.
-Skye Louis, ArtBridges Info Resource Developer
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