Urban Laboratory - part 1

Urban Laboratory - part 1, supported by the City of Melbourne, researches the role of social engagement practice in effecting the perception and actual experience of safety in urban spaces. This project was developed in two phases: incubation and iteration. Phase 1 was created to interrogate the space and phase 2 involved a new group of artists producing works in response to the previous interrogation. This was then followed by documentation and evaluation. The project emphasised new thinking around the role of curators working as creative producers in close collaboration with participating artists. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION This project was trialled by Melbourne City Council as an alternative to the installation of CCTV cameras in Rutledge and Hosier Lanes in Melbourne - these areas, having been identified as unsafe by council reports. The project could be deemed as a success as similar projects were unfolded and no CC cameras were installed at the end of the trial period. In Phase 2 - the iteration - the project Empty Nursery Blue was widely reported in news and blogs around the world and was listed on ArtsHub as one of the ten top reported art stories of the year. Urban Laboratory projects took place from 10 May 2013 to 14 February 2014.