Description: From bodies to homes to studios to public spaces to neighbourhoods to arts districts to suburbs, how do artistic labour and creative practice function within the spaces of cities and, in turn, are shaped by them? How do artists critically engage with urban social justice, environmental, and cultural policy issues? These questions guide students’ introduction to artistic labour, creative practice, cultural production and governance in cities around the world, with particular attention to the local urban context. Virtual and in-person fieldtrips to arts institutions, including art galleries, artist studios, community organizations, granting agencies, and government departments inform a critical appreciation of the complex network of urban actors that shape a city’s cultural landscape. Analytical engagement with interdisciplinary urban cultural scholarship on gentrification, racialization, corporatization, and democratic participation informs classroom discussion and assignments.

Programs: Environmental Arts & Justice