Site selection criteria

Definition

Site selection criteria refer to the specific factors and considerations that artists evaluate when choosing a location for site-specific performances. These criteria help determine how well the chosen site can enhance the artistic vision, audience engagement, and overall impact of the performance. The relationship between the performance and its environment is crucial, as it can shape the audience's experience and interpretation of the work.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Key factors in site selection criteria include accessibility, safety, acoustics, and visibility, which all impact how audiences experience a performance.
2. The physical attributes of a site, such as size, layout, and existing features, play a significant role in determining how performances are designed and executed.
3. Cultural significance is another important aspect; selecting a site with historical or community relevance can deepen the connection between the performance and its audience.
4. Environmental conditions like lighting and weather can also influence site selection, affecting both the practical aspects of staging a performance and its artistic intentions.
5. Artists often consider how their choice of site aligns with their conceptual goals, ensuring that the location complements and enhances their narrative or thematic elements.

Review Questions

• How do site selection criteria influence the overall effectiveness of a site-specific performance?
  • Site selection criteria greatly influence the effectiveness of a site-specific performance by ensuring that the chosen location enhances the artistic vision. Factors like accessibility, cultural significance, and environmental conditions can all affect how audiences perceive and engage with the performance. When these criteria are thoughtfully considered, they contribute to a more immersive experience that resonates with viewers on multiple levels.
• In what ways can cultural significance affect site selection decisions for performances?
  • Cultural significance can deeply affect site selection decisions by guiding artists toward locations that resonate with their intended message or theme. Choosing a site that holds historical or community importance can create a richer context for the performance, allowing audiences to connect more deeply with both the work and its setting. This connection can enhance emotional engagement and provoke thoughtful discussions about the themes presented.
• Evaluate how environmental conditions might alter the intended impact of a site-specific performance based on selected site criteria.
  • Environmental conditions can significantly alter the intended impact of a site-specific performance, especially if site selection criteria do not adequately account for them. For instance, if an outdoor venue is chosen without considering weather forecasts or natural light variations, it could disrupt the audience's experience and hinder performers' delivery. This misalignment could result in reduced engagement or misinterpretation of themes. Thus, evaluating environmental factors is crucial for ensuring that the performance achieves its desired effect and maintains artistic integrity.

Related terms

Site-specific performance: A performance created for a particular location, where the site itself becomes an integral part of the artistic expression.

Contextuality: The consideration of the cultural, social, and physical aspects of a site that influence the meaning and reception of a performance.

Audience engagement: The ways in which performers interact with the audience, often influenced by the site and how it shapes viewer perceptions.