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The Art in Democracy: Public Art as Mediator
As governments become more authoritarian while technological advances in surveillance at the same time allow business interests to increasingly outmaneuver civilian privacy rights, democracies across the world face ever-growing threats to their viability and in some cases, their very existence. During such a crisis, the vitality of public spaces in city centers becomes critically important.
Parks and public squares provide opportunities for residents to engage with each other: they gather for the purpose of recreation and collective experiences, such as live events and public art, but also for practicing speech and free expression. Not only are these shared spaces part of what makes cities livable and therefore desirable but their usage as forums for the community-at-large to exchange information and ideas is what makes them especially valuable at a time when democratic institutions are under strain.
European cities have a long tradition of cultivating public spaces and recognize them as a vibrant component of a healthy democracy but cities in the United States lag behind.
