Cultural ClinicA Cultural Democracy approach to programme development
The cultural clinic is a process-led methodology in which local communities, artists, cultural institutions, municipalities, and others work systematically to define, structure and articulate their own cultural projects which form the basis of a large-scale (European or National) Capital of Culture or any other significant cultural initiative.
A cultural clinic led by Chris Baldwin is predicated on listening – not imposing. Each cultural initiative (there may be dozens) is addressed individually. We work together in small, intensive sessions to identify:
- what a project aims to do and in which field(s) of practice,
- how the project might extend its interdisciplinary ambition, reflecting and contributing to contemporary art and cultural practices,
- the needs of its audiences (audience development is a complex and vital subject)
- how participatory working methods (co-creation and citizen-centred dramaturgy) can transform projects into dynamic democratising processes (in art practice, education, community development and more…)
- how collaborations with artists and organisations in other countries, regions or continents can bring extraordinary benefits to project development (European or international dimensions).
- risk and benefits and mitigation strategies,
- budgetary, management and the team needs for the successful execution of projects.
Once clinic meetings begin other meetings and workshops can be inserted into the process of programme building to reinforce ‘thematic clusters’ or ‘overlapping initiatives.
As the process unfolds it is likely that a cultural programme may be further enriched by additional ideas, projects or perspectives being introduced. But, at its fundamental level, a cultural clinic is a proactive toolbox designed to facilitate the building of cultural programmes predicated on cultural democracy.
| Beginning from the democratisation of culture… | ... to Cultural Democracy |
| asking your audience or stakeholders for feedback on your ideas | facilitating the ideas of your stakeholders, or co-creating together |
| launching a programme or product and marketing it far and wide | working with stakeholders from the outset to co-create a programme |
| employing professional artists to come up with ideas for community programmes | employing professional artists to work with communities to co-create ideas |
| convening a youth board that gives feedback but doesn’t hold decision-making power | supporting young people to play an active role in governance and decision-making |
| a leader with all the ideas who disseminates them to others | a leader who facilitates others to have ideas |
| defined limits for culture such as visual art, theatre, dance, music etc | a recognition that much (including gardening, cooking, knitting, fashion etc) is part of culture.* |
*this table is based upon ideas by 64 Million Artists at https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/cultural-democracy-practice
