Here is a selection from the ArtsAccess Project’s “Community Arts & the Museum: A Handbook for Institutions Interested in Community Arts” (download in PDF (7.45MB)
How Do We Get Started? Top Ten Tips
“Beginning a community arts project within a museum or gallery requires performing both a number of tangible tasks and some less tangible work focused on determining your approach to the project. To begin a community arts project, your organization can:
1. Understand Community Arts Practice
Learn about the history and guiding principles of community arts. Believe in the power of creative expression, in the ability of art to transform and in the importance of community agency. Understand how this practice is distinct from traditional museum practice.
2. Foster Institutional Commitment
Articulate the goals and outcomes of your project within your institution. Ensure concrete support in the form of financial resources, exhibition space or administrative and fundraising assistance.
3. Know Your Community
Identify and assess the needs of your surrounding community as a starting point for meaningful work.
4. Find the Right Artist
Find an artist who shares your organization’s goals and who can act as a bridge to the community.
5. Raise Community Awareness
Develop a communications strategy that raises awareness of your project within your community. Extend invitations, attend community meetings and share news and opportunities.
6. Build Relationships and Trust
Begin with the intention to serve the community and work to develop relationships of equality.
7. Define the Project’s Parameters and Assess Viability
Develop a timeline and identify sources of funding and potential resources for your project. Assess its viability and sustainability.
8. Establish an Evaluative Framework
Build in documentation and evaluation from the beginning of a project to support funding, sustainability and self-reflexivity.
9. Focus on the Process
Value the process, so that the outcome reflects its integrity.
10. Expect the Unexpected
There is no predetermined sequence of events for projects like these. Move with the process, be reflective and assess the right step at the right time.”
-The handbook was compiled and edited by Tara Turner and Judith Koke. This selection is posted with permission from Judith Koke; Deputy Director, Education and Public Programming at Art Gallery of Ontario
“This handbook is the legacy of the ArtsAccess project, a four year partnership between the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, and the Woodland Cultural Center…This handbook is for anyone, artist, museum or community organization – interested in creating a community art project.” (from the AGO’s Art Matters Blog)
