The Format

For three weeks in the winter of 2003/04, nine mid-career Canadian artists worked with a group of senior artists and media producers as part of Documenting Engagement: A Community Artists Media Institute. Together this group investigated the practice of community-based arts and explored the potential of digital video as a means of documenting the aesthetics of engagement inherent in this art form. After taking part in a series of discussions (see Public Sessions for details and downloadable presentations), workshops, and screenings, participating artists each produced a short documentary video highlighting an aspect of their practice.

These videos were screened at a closing night gala presentation and panel discussion at Pacific Cinémathèque. Copies of the productions are being widely disseminated (see The Video Suite for more information and an order form) and there have been screenings for the general public, community groups, educational institutions such as high schools, universities and colleges, art and community development conferences, funding agencies, and other groups and decision making bodies. Organizations using the Video Suite include: Creative Cities Network of Canada, Ontario Arts Council, City of Vancouver, Toronto Arts Council, Waterloo Regional Arts Council, City of Mississauga, Association of BC Arts Councils, City of Port Coquitlam, City of Burnaby, Valley Arts Council, University of British Columbia, Queen's University, University of Tacoma, Concordia University, Langara College, Musuem of Anthropology, and Vancouver Museum.

The Rationale

Currently many Canadian artists are working with communities in exciting and fully engaged ways that situate the artist's practise in both the processes and the products which are created. These are very difficult practices to explain and document, therefore there is a lack of materials that convey the nature of the work.

Video has a particular potential for documenting community based arts practises as time is an integral element of both forms. The Documenting Engagement Institute supports all artists working in community-based practices by helping both specific sectors, (such as grant-makers and educational institutions), and the broader public to become aware of and understand what this work is about and why it is so important .

The Institute was established with three main objectives:

1. To gather media artists and artists with acknowledged excellence (though not necessarily extensive histories) working in community-based practises along with senior artists in the field, in order to develop a contemporary critique and exploration of these practises.

2. To introduce digital media production techniques to the participating community artists to build capacity for ongoing documentation of their community based practises.

3. To create a visual anthology based on this 'critique and exploration' in a form that has potential for broadcast to a wide audience.

These objectives revolve around the need for artists pursuing community based practises to engage in a high level critical discourse and to explore methods to better relate the nature of their discipline to a wider public, including community groups, the arts community and funding agencies. As "process" is central to community art, time is a dimension of the "product" that needs to be adequately represented. While a written publication of proceedings could attempt to capture the critical/ aesthetic discussion it would not be able to develop as authentic a relationship with the discipline, particularly as this art practice is meant to communicate directly with the public. Finally, there is a great need for documentation that can be widely disseminated to both an audience of artistic professionals and to audiences who do not normally engage with the arts. In short, the Institute was set up to facilitate discussions that will set fires in the bellies of the participants to express the nature of what they do, and then facilitate their access to, and use of, a documentary form that will enhance their ability to ignite similar excitement in a wide range of viewers.