SUNDAY JAN 12th, 2:00pm-5:00pm: 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙨 is the third event in the 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙪𝙢, hosted at
@toptop.projects . 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙨 builds off of a context of increased privatization in the arts as established in 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨 and 𝙁𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙨, exploring, this time, the multi-valenced and shifting understanding of the public. Public, as a designation, is used in many ways across various contexts be it public art, community, audience, or government ownership. This is further complicated by the understanding that art and cultural programs in Canada are valued as a “public good.” However, within a paradigm of increased reliance on private and corporate investment in the arts, it begs the question: how does this change our notions of public? Inevitably, these changes inform the work of cultural practitioners.
Curator and cultural strategist 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗰 (
@saganmacisaac ) and curatorial collective 𝗔𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲 𝟰 (
@_aisle4 ) both have a long history of public engagement by centering meaningful community involvement and representation in their work. In doing so, Sagan and Aisle 4 both emphasize the public in public art. The event will begin with a presentation by Sagan on her work developing public art and cultural programming, offering tangible engagement tactics for artists, architects, and cultural workers. Aisle 4 will then present on their history of public engagement as a form of social practice, emphasizing the time and complexity it takes to work with communities.
Following the two presentations, Sagan and Aisle 4 will return for a panel discussion focusing on the political implications of working in public; as well as, an understanding of politics as inherent to the public itself. Through this discussion we hope to draw out some of the tensions latent within cultural production for the public in the face of greater privatization. Time for audience questions will follow the panel discussion.
This event will feature an accompanying score by
@adriangordoncook 
