APPENDIX A
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What is social practice art?
The term social practice (art) used in this report originated in
the U.S and is becoming more common in the UK. Finding one
term to cover to everything that is labelled as social practice
art, (a.k.a. socially engaged art) is not without its problems.
There is no one way in which art and the social come together
and so there is always a slipperiness about whichever moniker
is chosen. Our use of social practice reflects learning over the
course of the research informed by our stakeholders, including
international members for whom social practice best describes
a maturing field in which artists work closely with participants
and/or audiences, where social elements are a medium of the
work, not just a context for it of it. At its best, social practice
art achieves high quality results. At worst the high expectations
of those who commission work is matched by the inadequate
support available to artists and the restricted resources, including
time and budget.
What is validation?
Validation is the process by which the practice and skills of
a social practice artist are acknowledged, critically engaged
and promoted through commissioning, funding and training
by relevant organisational bodies and professional networks.
Who are the artists?
Who has a stake
in social practice?
Those invested in social practice include: artists; participants;
participant-audiences; secondary audiences;
commissioners; curators; producers; funders; educationalists
and researchers.
Who pays for
social practice art?
Social practice art is supported by many different funders,
including: Arts and Heritage; Charitable trusts;
Health and social care; Education; Local government;
Private sector.
What are the problems?
Despite achieving excellent results, and being increasingly in
demand, social practice frequently goes under-recognized,
under-funded and disconnected.
This goes hand in hand with problems and challenges
around the lack of adequate validation for social practice artists.
Social practice artists are found across the arts, not only within
the visual and performing arts, but also design, digital media
and architecture. Artists come to social practice via a range of
routes, including further and higher education in the arts and
humanities, curatorial and educational practice, arts administration,
activism, music and community work.