EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - SIT DOWN! -An art project in public space

SIT DOWN! -An art project in public space

Introduction

Can art challenge peoples perception of an old worn-down working-class neighbourhood, today percieved as a place for poor immigrants and ghettoes?

Problem

Mimersgade is facing several large urban regeneration projects. What will happen to this neighbourhood? Where and how should this renewal happen -and why? SIT DOWN! has no concrete suggestions to the Urban Regeneration programme. Instead it should be seen as an alternative and temporary urban renewal, creating debate, new experiences and perceptions of change.

Description

SIT DOWN! is a public art exhibition located on Mimersgade in the northern part of Copenhagen in the district called Nørrebro. The exhibition consisted of six art projects: a local shuttlebus (the Babylon Shuttlebus), ten socially modified benches, a hilly landscape, a video installation about neighbours, a neon sign pointing at Mjølnerparken (a social housing estate) and a project where local school children and the regulars of a local pub renovate this pub together. In their different ways these six contributions will turn Mimersgade into a place with unexpected exchanges, services, performances, sounds and perceptions. A place to pause and sit down. SIT DOWN! is about renewal and change. About challenging peoples perception of an old neighbourhood often associated with many immigrants, people on social benefits and ghettoes.

Approach

Through modern art in public space the perceptions of residents and people from outside the neighbourhood is being challenged. Art offers a different and more free space to develop thoughts, debate and change. The presentation and communication of the project was comprehensive and included:

Exclusive tours around the entire exhibition by the artists themselves;
Debate event about modern art's involvement in urban issues and how art can contribute in this context;
A newspaper distributed to every household in the neighbourhood, documenting and telling the stories behind the projects;
Free tours to local schools, shop owners and companies.

Results

It is difficult to present concrete and visible results of the project so far. Even though the project had many concrete purposes then the results can be difficult or maybe even impossible to measure.

One of the purposes was to give the artist a possibility to investigate the area and the residents distinctive character and needs from a different point of view than urban planners or politicians;
Another purpose is that the project should inspire the decisions and work of the urban regeneration programme. Since the project is supported by and closely connected to this programme, then it is an obvious result of the art project;
A third purpose is about creating a sense of community and pride among the residents. Especially children and youngsters used the exhibition in their everyday life, however this does not necessarily say whether it created a sense of community among them. However, the exhibition created debate about everything from how many benches the neighbourhood should have, who uses the benches, about which focus the social housing estate should have etc.;
Last but not least the project wished to challenge and change the perception of people outside the neighbourhood. This has hopefully happened due to the comprehensive media coverage that the project had and the many visitors of the project.

Beneficiaries

The project benefits the neighbourhood and its residents. Furthermore it has created new experiences for people from outside the area.

Resources used

As seen below the project recieved many ressources from different sponsors, besides the engagement and hard work of the artists themselves.

Financing

SIT DOWN! recieved economic support from various sponsors. They can all be seen on the back of the attached newspaper. Among others the support came from the Urban Regeneration Programme, the Danish Art Council and Copenhagen Art Committee.

Contact info

Mimersgade district, City of Copenhagen
Denmark
Christian Skovbjerg Jensen, tel. 00 45 61 70 60 49

Project start date

27/08/2006

Cities

Copenhagen, Denmark

Links

More information on Mimersgade district

Newspaper about SIT DOWN! (In Danish only, PDF, 3MB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Urban environment

Institutional characteristics
Local Authority