Rumour, Legend, Tradition, Fact: A critical project report

Over the last few years ‘community’, ‘participation’ and ‘heritage’ have become keywords in creative commissioning. These terms are generally invoked with an abundancy of good intentions, but little critical reflection. In this article the author uses a commission of hers as an example to unpick some of the unquestioned assumptions and interests that tend to underpin these projects. The manifold determinants, including bureaucratic, legislative, financial, political and art-historical factors shape to these types of commissions are conceptualized as a ‘forcefield’, an area of contradictory values, aims and objectives, that the author has to navigate. The article combines critical analysis, project report and personal reflection. It describes the author’s efforts to arrive at a satisfactory subject position and project outcome in relation to the conceptual complexities she encounters.