Community art is most inspiring when the artist can provide a forum in which the participants/community members can engage in an in-depth creation and have discussions on the aesthetics, form, function, context, audience and site of the project. When the artist has the time to facilitate discussions that encompass the personal, political and social. When this happens, when there is a clear process, clear guidelines and structure, then community art is at its best.

Community Public Art is a wonderful complement to the Community Development toolbox. It not only provides a venue to problem solve in creative ways, but in the process brings people together in a positive environment, creating lasting reminders (in memory or in tangible outcome) of the impact of creative public thinking. It provides engaging, creative ways of moving beyond meetings; of reaching what really matters to people - sometimes even surprising themselves. It can put a community's stamp back on our public spaces.

Community cultural development is described as the process of collaboration between artists and community members on agreed upon goals. Community art is the medium through which this collaboration can take place and includes visual, media and performing arts. The principles behind the work are participation, diversity and learning and the process builds community, increases awareness of the value of artists, develops creativity and addresses common issues.

Why is this work supported by government? Some municipalities recognize the value of strong and creative communities. If we believe that decisions are best made by those affected by them, then those processes that offer the opportunity to learn decision-making should be supported. If we believe that in creating a social safety net there is no substitute for the active responsibility of one individual for another, then building connections among neighbours is critical. And if we believe that rapidly changing times present challenges to communities, then creativity in solution finding must be encouraged. Community arts support creative and empowered communities and a stronger commitment to citizenship benefits all.

In a sense the position of the artist within a cultural landscape is like a continuum, and the place on that continuum is very negotiable. At one end of the continuum is where people are doing things without any intervention from artists, cultural development or cultural programs. At the other end of the continuum we might have artist who work exclusively within galleries, whose work is not particularly reflective of the culture of community life. What weíre interested in here is the middle section of the continuum, where people, communities and artists choose to work with each other in differing ways. The role of the artist is negotiable and communities have a very strong part to play in negotiating where theyíd like the artist to be when they invite her or him to their community.

Somewhere along the journey we come to realize who we are and where we are going. We find that everything we do reflects this. We listen to each other and find more in common than we find differences. We replace the politics of power and prejudice(s) and the narrow focus of individual disciplines with the practice of openness and responsiveness in planning and development. We find we are less defensive and we find that we are less frequently attacked. We experience less arrogance, find more respect for one another, feel safer and find too that each step in this new scheme is more interesting, more challenging, yields a better result and gives a greater sense of achievement. The social indicators show enhanced quality of life. The economic indicators are likewise enhanced. The environment in which we live is more tolerant , forgiving and supportive of the presence of people.

Broadly defined, community arts is a collaborative creative process between a professional practicing artist and a community. It is a collective method of art-making, engaging professional artists and self-defined communities through collaborative, artistic expression. It is much about process as it is about the artistic product or outcome. Community arts provides a unique way for communities to express themselves and enable artists, through financial and other support, to engage in creative activity with communities.

This broad definition identifies three elements, which separate community arts from other methods of art-making:

• the co-creative relationship between artist and
• community;
• a focus on process as an essential tool for
• collective, collaborative, mutually-beneficial
• results; and
• the active participation of artists and community members in the creative process.

Community arts is defined as art-making characterized by the active participation of people sharing in the creative process, thereby making their own art It is a communitys active intervention in its own cultural development and future, not a way to increase consumption of other peoples culture. It results in the public expression of collective experience.

Community cultural development is defined as a process of collaboration between artist and community in addressing agreed upon issues as expression of identity, relationship or purpose. It is important as a community development process, as a means to connect artists with the community, to encourage participation in the arts and to demonstrate the relevance of the arts to every day life.