Art Intervention in the City

This book focuses on the phenomenon of art intervention-an expression of local initiatives by artists, collectives, and art centers wishing to influence the design of the space or make a change in its lifestyle. It pertains not only to acts of protest, but also to the creation of a new civil and political situation in which artists acknowledge their ability to constitute foci of power. These are reflected in acts such as squatting in abandoned buildings, restoring and redistributing them according to principles of social justice; mapping the city based on alternative parameters, such as revealing venues of collective memory or exposing the city's backyard; creating outdoor urban art galleries; and creating temporary architecture and alternative solutions in order to deal with the challenges we face in times of epidemic and environmental crisis. The art intervention phenomenon has intensified since the mid-1990s, so much so that even local authorities the world over have begun to adopt activist and artistic practices. Due to the intensive urbanization processes and current global threats, the creative trends and means surveyed in the book are crucial. This book will interest researchers, planners, urban planners, architects, social activists, local authority executives, art centers, artists, and designers.

Hadas Ophrat, a multi-disciplinary artist and writer based in Jerusalem, is a leading figure in interdisciplinary art in Israel. As an active artist, he has staged dozens of solo exhibitions and performances, designed and directed over 30 visual theater works. As a social activist, he initiated the establishment of the Lewinsky Garden Library for asylum seekers and migrant workers in Tel Aviv. He is the founder of the Train Theatre; the School of Visual Theatre, and Hazira Performance Art - all in Jerusalem. In the last decade he explored the role of art and culture as motivators of urban change. In 2016 he was awarded the Israel Prize for Performing Arts, the supreme token of appreciation bestowed by the state.

1. Art Intervention 2. The City as a Field of Action 3. The New Agenda of Art and Culture Centers 4. From the Museum Interior to the Public Space 5. Art Centers: A Lever for Urban Development 6. Real or Imaginary Space? 7. The New Patrons: Authority Transferred to the Public 8. Urban Curation 9. Street Art as an Urban Resource 10. Restoration of Abandoned Buildings and Compounds 11. Alternative Structures 12. Mapping as a Research and Integrative Tool 13. Agents of Change 14. Modes of Spatial Action 15. Buildings and Sculptures as Scenes of Action 16. Creating Urban Narratives 17. Spatial Practices in Times of Crisis 18. Epilogue: Can Art Introduce Change?