Shared Vision:
Public Art for Community Transformation
Shared Vision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993. Its
mission is to leverage the imaginative power of communities to build
cataylsts for social, cultural and economic renewal. It does this by producing
monumental public artworks of exceptional quality in urban areas thatengage
the public directly in their creation.
We
harness the combined imaginative power of thousands of people to build
a potent force for the revitalization of cities and communities. In this
we follow the vision of our artistic director, William M. Cochran, one
of the country's leading muralists.
In 1998, we completed a Community Bridge that transformed a city and touched
the world. In the process, Shared Vision rewrote the rules for public
art, pioneering a new method to inspire and unite communities and generate
economic strength. It has further developed it model with its current
work, titled The Dreaming (www.TheDreaming.info). Now Shared Vision is
conducting a national search for a site on which to build the next work.
Shared Vision is not just a name. It is a holistic, multidisciplinary
approach to community building. Shared Vision creates dynamic partnerships
between arts, culture, education, tourism, and development to create a
more integrated approach to public art making and contribute to progressive
change in society. The community and artists working in participatory
synch make the artwork truly extraordinary, attracting attention and participation
from many states and countries.
The art provides an avenue for many voices from diverse backgrounds to
join together to illuminate the common ground that underlies our differences.
In the process, community perceptions are shifted, breaking down barriers
that limit and separate, unleashing creativity, and opening many new possibilities
for the future. It is a process we call co-creation, and it is why Shared
Vision projects become much more to a community than just a spectacular
work of public art.
The grand artistic statements of a Shared Vision project have a very broad
appeal. Tens of thousands of people visit the work in progress, and, with
the extensive media interest they draw, hundreds of thousands visit the
completed work over time, providing for a wide range of direct and indirect
economic benefits. They can catalyze private developer interest in underperforming
areas, and can serve as a vibrant centerpiece for downtown redevelopment
and cultural renewal.
Shared
Vision public artworks are important contributors to social growth and
change, influencing perceptions of the community and of one's place in
the world. They instill self-confidence and pride, encouraging tradition,
modernity and diversity to thrive side by side. Because their themes are
drawn from the creative input of the public, they extend social benefits
deeply into each segment of the community, and they highlight the strengths
and benefits of living in a pluralistic society.
Shared Vision has launched a nationwide search to site the next monumental
work of participatory public art that will become an international symbol
of our shared humanity. The work will draw creative input from individuals
across the United States and around the world.
To see if your city qualifies for consideration, see our national
search page or contact Shared Vision at wcochran@sharedvision.org.
You can download Shared Vision's brochure in printer friendly PDF format here (2.9MB)
If you do not have Acrobat Reader to view these documents, download it
free here.
List of Current Participants
Chairman: Doug Sarno
Secretary: David S. Greber, Esq.
Treasurer: Jennifer Clingan, CPA
Board Member: Jim Mills, AIA
Artistic Director: William Cochran
Public Outreach: Teresa Cochran