Art and Social practice is a branch of the MFA program at Portland State University. It is a two-year educational program.

 
About the Program—Harrell Fletcher and Jen Delos Reyes

Social practice starts and ends not in rarified spaces, but out in the world, although there are intersections with studios/galleries when necessary or appropriate. Social practice is not restricted to any medium, but instead uses various forms, methods, and approaches as the situation dictates; any combination of media might be used in the creation of a project. Sometimes social practice might look more like sociology, anthropology, social work, journalism, or environmentalism than art, yet it retains the original intention of creating significance and appreciation between the audience and artist in a similar way to more conventional art.

There are as many possible projects as there are people and life situations to work with. In some ways a social practice artist is a documentarian with agency. Instead of recording what is happening in the world, the social practice artist is also affecting the world, setting things in motion, fostering connections between people, and organizing everyday life so that it can be seen as engaging and meaningful. In this way the artist becomes engaged on a new level with the artist’s target audience as well as issues related to life.

The Art and Social Practice MFA concentration at Portland State University is a two year program that will educate and activate students to develop and utilize their artistic skills to engage in society and transcend traditional studio art paradigms. Students will learn about a variety of working artists and non-artists who have engaged in civic activity, and will apply their knowledge and abilities to initiate, develop, and complete projects with the public – individuals, groups, and institutions. Collaboration is highly encouraged.

Students in discussion with Mark Dion, 2009.