Resource: Aesthetic Perspectives
Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change
Animating Democracy has free downloads in various formats of this framework which can be used to enhance understanding and evaluation of creative work at the intersection of arts and civic engagement, community development, and justice.
The framework looks at 11 artistic attributes that address the potency of creative expression to embody and motivate change.
Aesthetic Perspectives aims to inform and inspire reflection, dialogue, and rich description in use by artists, funders, evaluators, educators, critics, presenters, programmers, curators, and audiences.
The framework:
elevates aesthetics in civically and socially engaged art
helps describe and assess the work
expands criteria for considering aesthetics in Arts for Change
addresses historical domination of Euro-American aesthetic standards
promotes deeper appreciation of the rigor required for effective creative work
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Aesthetic Perspectives was developed by artists and allied funders and evaluators who participated in the Evaluation Learning Lab led by Animating Democracy at Americans for the Arts, in partnership with the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Arts x Culture x Social Justice Network. Activation of the framework is supported by Hemera Foundation.