The Walker’s 4C Model for Art and Civic Engagement
The visionaries who brought us Burning Man are reaching out to fund what they describe as “art that generates social participation.” Sounds like civic engagement to me. The work this new foundation will fund should, in their words, ‘inspire immediate actions that connect people to one another in a larger communal context.”
The Walker’s recent publication/process map Art and Civic Engagement: Mapping the Connections identifies a “spectrum of civic engagement activities” that range from commentary (activating people’s voices and opinion) to action and leadership. We have noticed that most artist residencies, if they have a community component, tend to remain in the range of commentary and dialogue. So, its great that the Black Rock Arts Foundation has recognized the need to support community-based arts programs that engender civic action and most importantly, are willing to write a check to make it happen. Bravo.
What do you make of the myriad questions raised about Black Rock Arts and its relationship to Burning Man, in a recent article by Justin Berton in the San Francisco Chronicle?
Comment by David Herskovits — 8/24/2007 @ 1:50 pm