Project Art

From Social Practice Wiki

This definition page was created by students from Ben Kinmont’s Project Art Practicum class 2006 at the California College of Arts (based on initial culmination of ideas from the class of 2005) for possible publication by Antinomian Press.

Towards a concise definition of project art

Project art consists of interactions or collaborations with others taking place outside of normative art exhibition spaces. This practice is concerned with social structures and relationships; therfore it is necessarily ephemeral.

Towards an expanded definition of project art

Project art considers value structures outside of the art historical discourse.

Project art involves the public and the artist in a dialogue that usually occurs outside of the art world.

Project art often involves artist and non-artist collaborations and public research.

In project art the community influences the content and structure of the project as the project takes place in the community.

Project art changes in response to particular environments and situations.

Project art is not necessarily contained by normative art exhibition spaces but rather may take place on the street, on the move, or in your home.

Project art is often defined by its duration and interaction with others and is not limited by physical dimensions.

Project art is often ephemeral or transitory.

Project art often encompasses activities that are normally considered tangential to or in the service of the art-making process (e.g. the phone call, the letter, the research, the conversation, & the failed attempt).

Project art does not set out to create an art object to be sold and resold.

Project Art uses social structures to achieve relationships that are often unattainable in other art mediums.