Name: The arts festival revolution
Uploaded: 2012-11-16T16:00:33Z
Duration: 8 min 47 s
Description: David Binder is a major Broadway producer, but last summer he found himself in a small Australian neighborhood, watching locals dance and perform on their lawns -- and loving it. He shows us the new face of arts festivals, which break the boundary between audience and performer and help cities express themselves.

David Binder is a major Broadway producer, but last summer he found himself in a small Australian neighborhood, watching locals dance and perform on their lawns -- and loving it. He shows us the new face of arts festivals, which break the boundary between audience and performer and help cities express themselves.

The arts festival revolution

Arts festivals are evolving into radically open celebrations that blur the line between audience and performer. In Sydney, an entire suburb became a stage as locals danced on their own lawns, sparking joy and community pride. These new festivals invite everyone to participate, turning neighborhoods, ferry terminals, and even city streets into places for connection and self-expression. By embracing diversity and site-specific creativity, festivals are helping cities better understand themselves and each other.