Artistic Citizenship: Artistry, Social Responsibility, and Ethical Praxis brings together a wide range of perspectives of amateur and professional artists, art educators, and scholars who endeavor to be "artivists" for change.
This first-of-its-kind compendium unites perspectives from artists, scholars, arts educators, policymakers and activists to investigate the complex system of values surrounding artistic-educational endeavors. Addressing a range of artistic domains, ranging from music and dance, to visual arts and storytelling, contributors offer an exploration and criticism of the conventions that govern our interactions with these practices. Artistic Citizenship focuses the responsibilities, and functions of amateur as well as professional artists in society, and introduces a novel set of ethics that are conventionally dismissed in discourses on the topic. The authors address the questions: How does the concept of citizenship relate to the arts? What socio-cultural, political, and ethical "goods" can artistic engagements create for people worldwide? Do particular artistic endeavors have distinctive potentials for nurturing artistic citizenship? What are the most effective strategies in the arts to institute change and/or resist local, national, and world problems? What responsibilities do artists and consumers of art have in order to facilitate the relationship between the arts and citizenship? How can artistic activities contribute to the eradication of various 'ism's?
A substantial accompanying website features video clips of arts-in-action, videotaped interviews with scholars and practitioners in a variety of global sites, a blog, and supplementary resources about existing and emerging initiatives. Thoroughly researched and engagingly written, Artistic Citizenship is an essential text for artists, scholars, policy makers, educators, and students.
It is commonplace to say that art moves us, but this is usually meant in terms of the individual and their internal, affective response. The editors and contributors of Artistic Citizenship offer another perspective: describing and theorizing how, in myriad ways, art canand doesmove us collectively and effect us socially. I cant think of a better primer for artists, activists, educators, and students who want to make art work in the world.
