Participatory Art

Participatory Art

Participatory art refers to an artistic form that actively involves the audience in the creative process, transforming them into active participants.

Participatory arts involve various forms of artistic expression, like drama, music, writing, video, and photography. These emphasise shared decision-making and often have broader goals, such as sparking discussions, promoting social activism, or uniting communities for a common cause. Art historian Grant Kester proposes that participatory art occurs when the participants play a vital role in shaping the creative process, co-authoring the art, giving informed consent, and continually discussing the content and direction of the project. Social interaction is a key element that motivates, propels, or, in some cases, finishes the project.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.
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