At a time of increasing inequality and social tension, a new publication by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) considers the intersections of socially engaged and public art practices within a global context, with a focus on Australia and the MCA’s groundbreaking C3West program. What role can art play in bringing people together? Can artists working in public spaces and situations shift perceptions and attitudes? Does socially engaged practice inhibit artistic excellence?
Civic Actions: Artists’ Practices Beyond the Museum delves into these crucial questions, focusing on the intersection of social and public projects, and the possibilities of art practice in public space. This essential publication by the MCA is international in focus and features formal essays and critiques along with conversational reflections by high-profile artists, curators, academics and cultural practitioners from across Australia, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North and South America, who work with communities in the public realm.
