Art (Spaces) Imitates life? Exploration of Arts-Centered Spaces and their Degree of Accessibility to Immigrant Communities

• In Event: 41021 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 14: Race and Place

Abstract

This literature review is designed to answer a set of questions. First of which considers whether art spaces are welcoming spaces for immigrants. The second considers what conditions may prompt immigrants to interact or disengage with art spaces. Literature from cultural geography, sociology of culture, urban studies, race, ethnicity, and migration have demonstrated that institutions such as the art museum have historically been sites of domination (Anderson 2006; Cooks 2011; Lonetree 2012). Despite this, museums have demonstrated an effort to change while marginalized communities partake in placemaking endeavors regardless of these constraints (Hooper-Greenhill 2000; Roberts 2018, 2020; Lipsitz 2011; Cook 2011; Lonetree 2012; Jenkins 2010; Jamal 2010, Espiritu 2010, Maira 2010, Stern et. al. 2010). Moreover, art-spaces have been shown to benefit people in both an individual and communal sense (Grodach 2010, 2011; Eaves 2014; Eisner 2012). Yet, the literature shows that immigrant individuals tend to prefer more informal or private venues to partake in the consumption or creation of art. Although this is the case, we cannot discern exactly why this dynamic is occurring (Stern et. al 2010). Literature regarding cultural capital and strategic assimilation point to possible theoretical explanations of this dynamic, but further research must be conducted to fully address this discrepancy (Bourdieu 1977; Lamont and Lareau 1988; Lacy 2007). In the completion of this literature review, I also offer suggestions to improve existing art spaces based upon the concepts of the Black Spatial Imaginary and Community Asset Mapping (Lipsitz 2011; Villanueva 2020,2021).

Author

• Afruza Aminul, Texas A&M University-College Station