With the aim of building a shared framework for collaboration among leaders of municipal governments to take advantage of the renewable resource of participatory arts, “Innovation in Public Policies” was held from August 2 – 13 in Paraguay.
What is the anatomy of an “aha” moment? How and why did we evolve to have such experiences? Can we prime ourselves to have them more often? Why should we care? These and similar questions were the recent focus of a cross-cutting investigation by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Santa Fe Institute (SFI).
As a part of public art program Spazi Capaci in Palermo, Sicily, featured art displays are applied to convey messages and memorials as social weapons against the Mafia. While controversies surrounding its suitability with surrounding city culture arose, the pieces’ power to invigorate critical artistic and historical discussion prevailed.
Cultural Agents is a platform for academics, artists, community leaders, and active citizens in general. It is an invitation to revive a long humanistic tradition that combines arts and research in the service of civic development.
José Falconi
University of Connecticut.
Doris Sommer
Harvard University.
Tracey Strange
Art Life Laboratory.
