research

Topic: Arts and Social Development: Arts-Based Civic Engagement

Artists, cultural organizations, and their community partners are helping to shape a new paradigm of civic participation by tapping the power of the arts and humanities. In a society that is increasingly diverse and where many still feel disenfranchised from public life, civic engagement is a critical dimension of public process.

Civic engagement encompasses the many ways that people may get involved in their communities to consider and address civic issues. These include but are not limited to joining committees or boards, volunteering, community organizing, participating in community planning or improvement efforts, and attending and participating in civic forums.

The arts have proven to be a potent catalyst to engage people in civic concerns. In arts-based civic engagement, the artistic process and/or presentation provides a key focus, forum, or form for public dialogue/engagement on the issue. Opportunities for dialogue/engagement are embedded in or connected to the arts experience. In addition, the arts may provide a direct forum to engage in community planning, organizing, and activism. Arts-based civic engagement may draw upon any of the arts or humanities disciplines and the spectrum of community-based, experimental, mainstream, or popular approaches to making or presenting art. Individual artists or companies, community-based arts or cultural organizations, or large institutions may undertake arts-based civic dialogue/engagement utilizing a wide range of artistic practice and dialogic and engagement methods.

The potential outcomes of effective arts and civic engagement work are many. The arts and humanities can broaden citizens’ voices and participation, offering a welcoming entry point to those who have not felt access to the civic realm before. The arts and humanities can offer a new context for civic leaders to connect with citizens about issues in their communities, informing leaders at new levels about the issues.

With greater awareness and understanding of issues, arts-based civic dialogue and engagement may bring about shifts in thinking and attitude. With a greater sense of self and collective efficacy, people may even be moved to action. Evident in all of these possibilities is the power of the arts and humanities to animate democracy.

For more information on Arts and Civic Engagement, check out Animating Democracy.