What participatory practices constitute ‘art’, art worlds, or art experiences?
What counts as “participation”: curating, collecting, critiquing, teaching, doing, attending, etc.?
How do we engage with concepts of diversity across practices and backgrounds?
How does the concept of transmedia interact with these practices?
Participatory practices are essential to “art,” art worlds, and art experiences. The practices involved in “art” include the creative process and those involved, the artist physically creating the art, putting exhibits together, and the inspiration for art (even if the muse does or does not know about their involvement, they are still directly part of “art”). Art worlds expand even further. Those who create the tools of art (paint brushes, canvas, cameras, film, etc.) are directly needed to create art. The art world also includes the people who create exhibits, who market the art and artist, people who ask for funding, people who donate money, and the other artists in the same genre (who the artist either wants to emulate or avoid). The participants and type of participation that make up the art experience are vastly important to the whole process. The creators of an exhibit (creating the literal experience), the media covering the showing, the critics who try to define the art, and the audience (who are insanely important). All of these, the “art,” art worlds, and art experiences, are all spheres that overlap and can be interchangeable. Certain groups or people are important to various spheres and work into all three.
To me, almost everything can be counted as participation in art. Curating, collecting, viewing, creating, critiquing, hating, loving, glancing, teaching… are a part of the artistic experience. If looked at from a certain angle, many types of activities can be skewed and can be shown as participating in art.
Diversity is engaged in all practices of art. There are many types of diversity, including but not limited to; economic, cultural, racial, and artistic. Anyone from any background can become an artist, can become a curator, can become a critic, or anything else involved in art. There are different ways to create participation for all types of people from diverse backgrounds, economic backgrounds, etc. Education programs and teaching artists can reach out to underprivileged children and bring them into the fold as a new and diverse audience.
Transmedia is telling a story across multiple platforms of media. Artists can give interviews that will be aired on T.V., put up on youtube, printed in a magazine. The marketing director can place an ad in a magazine or newspaper. Audience members will post videos, comments, and pictures various social media platforms. It goes on and on. Different forms of media are important to people or different processes in art and art worlds.