Project Development Models for Community Art (Cont.)

Model 2. Artist-Initiated Project

In an artist-initiated project, the artists make the first move. The artist approaches a community or group with an idea and the community decides if this is a project they want to work on. In this model, the artist needs to balance their own vision for the project with ensuring the community members understand and also benefit from the collaboration. This kind of collaboration really requires the artist to be a true collaborator, because it can easily become about the artist more than the community.

An example of an artist-initiated project would be the copycat install of the “Before I Die” chalkboards in Winnipeg’s West End and West Broadway. Both in the original project, created by Candy Chang, and the Winnipeg version, a large blackboard is installed in a public place with the heading “Before I Die”. People passing by are encouraged to pick up a piece of chalk and fill in the blanks. In the Winnipeg install, a person was inspired by the project. She spoke to community groups in both communities and got a team together to get them installed. At the opening, she arranged for juice and snacks to be provided. The pieces were left up for over a year as an invitation for the community to participate. The West Broadway piece was recently replaced with a mural painted by people in the community to celebrate the community garden.

What do you think are some benefits of a project developing this way?

What do you think are some challenges of a project developing this way?

Model 3. Community-Initiated with Outside Expert (with project parameters)

In this instance a community decides either through consultation with their community, board meetings or observation that their community would like to work on an art project with an artist. They decide to put a call out for an artist (they usually specify what kind) and see what comes in.

Interested artists submit a sample of their work and an artist’s statement and then meet with the key community members to discuss what they can bring to the project and possible project ideas. Some groups apply for funding, some don’t. Some communities have an idea of what they would like to work on (usually a mural), but not always. An example of this would be the drama program in the Gilbert Park Community. The NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre had learned about the value of drama education to their youth. They put a call out for interested theatre artists to apply to run a 10-week program at their site. They arranged for the funding and preselected a group of youth. NorWest arranged the schedule, budget and space, and the artist created a customized program that met the needs of the youth.

What do you think are some benefits of a project developing this way?

What do you think are some challenges of a project developing this way?