For many citizens, the proximate social world – the neighbourhood – is not a given safe haven. It is a constellation made from bonds and antagonisms alike. It is a space marked by layers of silent, simmering conflicts, some of which may escalate at any given moment.
Today, the growing social divide and violence in Germany present a challenge not only to local daily life, but also to the role of artists and the arts. The New Patrons methodology of citizen commissioned art is based on mediation processes within local communities. By taking responsibility for their situation and collaborating with local stakeholders and progressive international artists, citizens-patrons contribute to a democratic model of action in which conflicts, desires, and new perspectives can be examined and potentially transformed.