What is social practice art?
Big Car’s focus is on an innovative and relevant kind of community-based art, called social practice or socially engaged art, that brings people together to make small and big things happen. These projects focus on social experiences, on people and process and not as much on products. This work invites people to participate no matter what kind of skill level they have as artists. This is an art of activity and ideas. So, ultimately, the art in social practice is really found in cooking up experiences that are collaborative and interactive and may have a positive impact for people.
Social practice almost always directly involves people who may not identify themselves as artists. This can help break down the wall between artist and audience and can help encourage more people to be creative. Socially engaged art is often about empathy and connection with other people. And projects often start with identifying topics, issues, concerns or problems. And then artists connect with the public on creative approaches to helping address these things. Social practice shares much in common with sociology, anthropology, marketing, design, journalism, theater, and other performing arts. In visual arts, past influences include Dada, surrealism, Fluxus, happenings, relational art. This 2013 article in the New York Times helps explain and set context.
See examples of Big Car led social practice projects below.