Beyond the Building: Performing Arts & Transforming Place, Session 4
Performances have multifaceted ways that they transform places, people's relationships with their communities, and community development processes. On November 3, 2014, the Arts Endowment hosted the "Beyond the Building: Performing Arts and Transforming Place" convening to develop a better understanding of how performance-based organizations, and the artists they engage, transform places through their artistic practices.
The convening brought together representatives of performing arts organizations from across the country and NEA staff for a day-long investigation of this topic. Barbara Schaffer Bacon, co-director of Animating Democracy, served as facilitator. Support for the convening was also provided by ArtPlace America.
The convening included public presentations and large group discussions as well as small group breakout sessions. The public presentations were broadcast live; the video archives of the four public sessions are available.
This session included:
Presentations from Afternoon Small Group Discussions. Participants regroup in a larger forum to share summaries from small group discussions on the following topics/questions:
- Issues & Impact: What are the types of community issues or needs best addressed by placemaking activities? What is the intent of the activity, and the impact?
- Relationships & Resources: What are the relationships and resources necessary for the performing arts to be effectively engaged in placemaking activities? What are the goals and desires of each stakeholder in this work? How and when are stakeholders engaged?
- Addressing Equity: How can performing arts organizations address issues of social and cultural inequalities and equitable access within their communities using placemaking strategies?
