NEW THEATRE INSTITUTE OF LATVIA

contemporary performing arts in Latvia and abroad

The DemArt open-source Art Commissioning Toolkit is available ONLINE. While the main target audience of the toolkit is municipalities, it can be used by any actor who wishes to democratise their funding processes.

The proposed method empowers citizens to commission artworks that respond to local priorities, explore untold stories and celebrate diverse perspectives, identities and experiences. In the frame of DemArt, art commissioners with diverse backgrounds are responsible for the entire art commissioning process: they identify local values, untold stories, and unresolved problems they would like to address through the art commissioning process; they create an open call for artists; and they commission the artworks. Giving space to the presentation of the culture of an underrepresented group attracts an audience from the community. At the same time, it fosters tolerance and social cohesion by allowing the larger audience to deepen understanding and build appreciation beyond stereotypes and prejudices.

This project is led by partner organizations Bethlen Square Theater – Central European Art Network, Pro Progressione, Art Transparent, and the New Theatre Institute of Latvia. Project “Democratising art commissioning by involving local communities” (DemArt) co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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