White Night Melbourne in 2013 and 2014: Disruption or Contribution Toward the Socially Engaged Public (Art)?

White Night Melbourne in 2013 and 2014: Disruption or Contribution Toward the Socially Engaged Public (Art)?

(Short paper)

Keywords: Public Space, Public Art, White Night Melbourne, New Media Art, Social Objects, Audience Interaction, Participation, Cooperation, Co-creativity, Socially Engaged Art

The purpose of this case study is to analyze the White Night arts festival as a form of public art using the frameworks of art as experience, art practice as cooperation and social objects. In 2013, Melbourne hosted more than 300,000 participants at its first White Night and in 2014 the number increased to 550,000. [1] The White Night started in Paris, 2002 influenced by the origin of Nuit Blanche, and is now held in more than 23 cities globally. [2] The various White Night events share a common objective, which is to celebrate and transform the city, as art and entertainment [3], into a free cultural event. The White Night festival features traditional and new media art in public spaces that promote social interaction and participation amongst large public groups. Three artworks are discussed as case studies using the conceptual frameworks to highlight the potential of the festival to build socially engaging and interactive public artworks. The case studies also reveal areas of focus that are unique to the festival, which could be leveraged to greater effect.