The Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College has received its second commission from the U.S. State Department’s Office of Art in Embassies for the art collection at the new U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Students in this course will examine the definition, unique challenges, history, and implementation of public art. Over the course of the term, the class will conduct case studies of prior public art projects and will explore the various dimensions of researching, designing and implementing a site-specific project within a diplomatic context, including looking at the success of CAPA’s recent project at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway. We are planning on collaborating with graduate students from Thailand who are at the University of Bangkok as well as other Thai cultural and community organizations in Chiang Mai. This course is open to a wide range of students from different disciplines.

This course is the first half of a year-long experience. The course aims to attract a wide range of students from different disciplines. Enrollment in the Spring 2020 term is required in order to continue working on the project in Fall 2020.