ART ON 12 FLOORS
STAIRWAY
TO ART
ART AND SOCIAL HOUSING
July 2022, I and 4 other artist colleagues were commissioned to give life to staircases in Lundtoftegade on Nørrebro. Several residents expressed that they felt unsafe in destructive sorroundings, with decay and trash everywhere, while walking on the stairwells. There was daily vandalism and few wanted to use the stairs. The housing association took the initiative to create art with resident involvement. The residents of the 5 initially selected stairwells could choose the artist themselves, as well as show up to meetings and communicate their own wishes and thoughts with the artist in relation to the form and content of the art.
TV Lorry did a news feature here ( in danish) :
and an article here:
https://www.tv2lorry.dk/koebenhavn/utrygge-opgange-paa-noerrebro-har-faaet-nyt-liv-det-aendrer-alt
WHAT CAN ART DO
IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS?
The text below is from the inspiration guide "Art in exposed residential areas", - Ministry of Social Affairs. Denmark. Developed and carried out by the Institute for Future Research
Sofie MyschetzkyJacob Suhr Thomsen Niels Bøttger-Rasmussen
Artistic expression can reflect the residents' dreams thoughts and culture
Mutual exchange of views between residents and artists
Aesthetic communities as an alternative to destructive communities
"The problems in the exposed residential areas are massive and involve social as well as cultural challenges. Trends and studies show that there can be great and important potential in using the artistic process to form unity, positive experiences and stories in and around the exposed residential areas . On a practical level, art can: • Form a platform for developing social communities. • Develop aesthetic communities as an alternative to negative communities and destructive activities. • Give the participants tools and competence in communicating themselves, their own values, identity, etc. • Create a common platform for the residents of a vulnerable residential area to communicate what they think their local area should stand for and signal to the inside as well as the outside.• Provide residents as well as outsiders with artistic and cultural experiences Art can provide qualitative input into the overall development strategy in relation to local needs and resources and thus function as an alternative to more traditional citizen involvement". (The entire piece can be downloaded here: https://byfornyelsesdatabasen.dk/file/345460/dok.pdf
Art can provide experiences for residents as well as outsiders
Art and resident democracy
transform unsafe stairwells