"GO" open studio project exposes Brooklyn community to local artists

Over 1,800 Brooklyn-based artists participated in the Brooklyn Museum’s open studio weekend, sponsored by Deutsche Bank.

On September 8 and 9, 2012, many of Brooklyn’s most creative spaces were opened up to the public through "GO: a community-curated open studio project," organized by the Brooklyn Museum to promote community involvement and interaction with the local arts.

Over 1,800 Brooklyn-based artists in nearly every neighborhood across the borough allowed community members to visit their studio spaces that weekend to learn about the creative process. Visitors were then able to nominate artists for inclusion in a group exhibition held at the Museum. Brooklyn Museum curators visited the studios of the top nominated artists to select works for the exhibition, which ran from December 1, 2012 through February 24, 2013.

Web and mobile technology were a central component, bringing artists and community together to share information and perspectives on art. All participants were able to create a personal online profile at the project’s website. Artist profiles included photos of each artist and their studio, along with images and descriptions of their work. Voters had profiles that tracked their activity during the open studio weekend and provided a platform on which to share their perspectives. A “GO” iPhone application allowed visitors to navigate neighborhood studios and vote for their favorite artists.

Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation helped sponsor "GO" through its Art & Emerging Technology grant program, which advances the usage of interactive technologies in cultural institutions.

GO’s open studio weekend was held on September 8 and 9, from 11 am – 7 pm throughout Brooklyn. To learn more about “GO,” please visit the project website. To see an introductory video, please click here; for a studio map guide, please click here.

${esc.q}GO${esc.q} open studio project exposes Brooklyn community to local artists