AiR Meeting #4 Notes

[mieystrapurore]

Meeting # 4: 18 August 2011

AiR Think Tank:

Aim of this workshop was to brainstorm the direction of the AiR, its focal points and the possible artistic outcomes.

AiR participants split into 3 groups. Each group brainstormed 1 of each of the following:

1. Topics to explore and focus on.
   
2. Possible methods to gather information from public.
   
3. Possible Outcomes to AiR.

(A) TOPICS TO EXPLORE:

Racism is a ‘universal’ issue.

Realizing the complexity of issues such as racism and that it occurs in many societies. à To get to the root of it.

Not as simple as perpetrator and victim à Victims can also be perpetrators.

National Boundaries and Similarities/Differences.

Individual subjectivity when defining identity.

Being grouped by others/society into ‘normal’ or ‘exotic’.

Letting young multicultural people decide what they want to discuss in a project.

Assumptions made from appearances.

Deeply challenging views à Raw and Provoking.

Shaking mindsets and filters à look beyond confirming own preconceived ideas.

Inclination to discriminate à for example, when recruiting.

Labels:

1. Challenging stereotypes
   
2. Positive or negative
   
3. Who decides the labels?
   
4. Possible to be specific without generalizing.
   
5. Participants having the power to define themselves without being boxed in a group.

(B) INFO GATHERING METHODS:

Online Quiz providing hypothetical situations/questions for people to discuss. Could raise interesting points.

Surveying on the street.

Focus groups with young experts: Role reversal: young people would tell professionals/artsists/council etc what they’re looking for.

Previous reports on existing projects/ideas.

Web research

Email connections.

Interactive video asking for opinions.

(C) POSSIBLE OUTCOMES:

1. Forums
   
2. Photography
   
3. Literature, for eg. Brochures and Newsletters
   
4. Video à Informative à Narrative à Documentary
   
5. Network Hub for CMY - Online (maintained by paid personnel).

For participants/young people to know/find other projects

Emerging Artists to find Mentors

Professional Artists to link with organizations

Organizations to promote projects (through video, photos, documentaries, links) and discuss issues and obstacles.

For young people to fee back to organizations about projects to improve projects’ effectiveness.

To display working models and have debate about process.

Social networking.










What do you think about all this?'