Daniel Valtueña: What Is Community-Based Art Commissioning in Public Space?
Daniel Valtueña presented the Artist Commissioning Program (ACP) initiated by the Queens Council on the Arts (QCA) in New York. The program’s goal was to democratize the commissioning of art by involving local communities in deciding which artworks should be created in their neighborhoods. The lecture emphasized the importance of breaking traditional elitist models in culture and encouraged participants to take part in art commissioning processes themselves.
1. Origins of the Artist Commissioning Program (ACP)
Queens Council on the Arts (QCA):
Founded in the 1960s as a government-supported initiative to fund local artistic development.
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Operates in Queens, the most culturally diverse borough in New York, home to over 2 million people, including Latinx, Korean, Armenian, and Chinese communities.
Inspiration for ACP:
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Traditional art commissioning, associated with elites and institutions (e.g., the Medici in Renaissance Italy or modern corporations), excluded local community participation.
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ACP aimed to open this process to “everyday people” — neighbors, local leaders, and residents without art expertise but with a desire to co-create.
The guiding question:
“What would happen if residents decided what artworks were created in their communities?”
Program Goals:
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Democratize the art commissioning process by putting decision-making power into the hands of local communities.
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Strengthen community bonds through shared involvement in art as a tool for social development.
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Promote diversity by enabling projects that reflect the unique themes and values of local groups.
2. ACP Methodology
Key Principles:
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Residents of Queens could apply to be art commissioners without needing artistic education or experience.
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Commissioners participated in workshops and trainings based on a specially designed handbook that:
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Introduced the art commissioning process
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Debunked myths (e.g., that only the wealthy can commission art)
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Explained how to collaborate with artists and produce art projects
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Steps in the Commissioning Process:
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Define the purpose: What should the artwork achieve? (e.g., beautify public space, raise awareness of a social issue, strengthen community identity)
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Choose the form: Mural, installation, performance, song, sculpture?
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Select artists: Via direct contact or open call
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Secure funding: From grants, crowdfunding, local partnerships
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Creative process: Ongoing collaboration between residents and artists, with regular meetings and problem-solving
3. Examples of ACP Projects in Queens
Dance and Choreography Projects:
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Apocalitzin by Maria Duarte: A performance on climate crisis using plastic waste to symbolize environmental degradation
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Us Around the Table by Jiemin Yan: A choreography about a coming out moment within an Asian family
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Armenian Voices by Spark Movement Collective: Dance inspired by the Armenian genocide, important to the local community
What made these projects unique:
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The topics reflected community values and concerns rarely addressed in mainstream art.
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Decisions made by local residents differed significantly from those likely made by curators or art critics.
4. Lessons Learned
Biggest Successes:
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Community engagement: Projects truly addressed local needs and values
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New definition of artistic quality: Artistic standards were set by communities, not just experts
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Building relationships: Strong bonds were formed between artists and residents, reinforcing local identity
Challenges:
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Underpayment: Both commissioners and artists were often undercompensated for their work
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Reaching outside the cultural bubble: Few participants came from backgrounds like small business or non-cultural professions
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Formal barriers: Written applications and open calls sometimes favored better-educated individuals
5. Applying the Methodology in Europe – The DemArt Project
Spreading the Idea:
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The model was adapted for Poland, Latvia, and Hungary, supported by organizations such as Art Transparent.
Goals included:
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Training local art commissioners
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Organizing open calls for artists
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Supporting collaboration between residents and artists across Europe
Future plans:
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Publishing the methodology as an open resource for other organizations
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Promoting the idea of democratized art commissioning in other regions worldwide
6. Core Message of the Lecture
Daniel Valtueña stressed that art should be a tool for inclusion and community building, not an exclusive privilege.
Democratizing art commissioning empowers communities to create works that reflect their identity, values, and concerns.
“You don’t have to be rich or an expert to commission art. All you need is passion and the will to make a difference in your community.”
