Abstract
This literature review is designed to answer two questions. First, whether art spaces are welcoming spaces for immigrants? Second, 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. Despite this, museums have demonstrated an effort to change, while marginalized communities embody the capacity to partake in placemaking endeavors regardless of these constraints. Moreover, art-spaces have been shown to benefit people in both an individual and communal sense. Despite this, the literature shows that immigrants 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. 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. 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.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Race and Ethnicity, Migration, Culture, Cultural Geography, Place and Space
