Manifesto

Concrete = Canvas is a revolution against the relentlessly invasive concrete of the world. We are an independent arts organization with a goal of transforming grey, desolate, concrete spaces into vibrant urban canvas; to convert our urban jungles into artistic landscapes for the purpose of progressing the economic, social, and community structures within fringe communities lying in the shadows of major metropolitan nuclei.

The essence of these projects lies in the idea of commissioning local artists working within these very communities to develop and execute public art with a purpose of fostering a sense of worth, activism and camaraderie among the populace of each neighborhood we work with.

Providing a platform to local artists living in communities in which the struggle to survive often overshadows the need for art, we believe that everybody deserves access to the creative process and the visual stimuli that flow from it. These interventions- one city at a time- can assist in making art more accessible to the general public by breaking down the intimidating four white walls of the contemporary gallery as we know it, bringing art directly to our communities. Our strong-held belief is that the visual arts should not be retained solely within these higher institutions where language, content, and presentation distinctly marginalize the audience, and by challenging our communities to approach the creative process in an alternative manner we can expand our understanding of art and its context in an approachable environment.

From the slums of São Paolo to Los Angeles’s skid row, talented artists with no productive outlets are falling through the cracks. C=C enthusiastically believes that by fostering venues for artistic expression in these communities, a window can be opened for creativity, social dialogue, and education. These interventions will function as educational, social, economic and aesthetic initiatives for various communities around the globe which we believe is the first step toward a more globally and artistically conscious, peaceful planet.

Join the movement and do the world a favor: turn concrete into canvas.