Concept illustration by Kyna McIntosh.
Imagine attending a show where you are asked to meet at a Laundromat…
While you are lead to a speakeasy two doors down, you realize that the ordinary street has been transformed into a set by nightfall. As you travel through the neighborhood, the mysterious narrative—inspired by local tales and history—that began from the invitation you received, is slowly unraveling. The laundromat owner, the bartender, and other members of the community are all a part of the larger set, sharing pieces of the story from their perspective. Though the block resets back to usual when the show concludes, the familiar faces you interacted with still remain in the narrative of reality. On any regular day, Richard will still greet you at the laundromat, and Ty will still make your cocktail at the speakeasy. Only now, you all share the same contributions to placemaking in an immersive act of community engagement.
Illustration of Tooker Alley by John Tebeau.
Why does A Community-based immersive show matter right now?
“So glad I moved from Bed Stuy to Hell’s Kitchen.”
“How come?”
“Because I was so sick of taking off my jewelry each time I got out of the subway in Bed Stuy. I didn’t want to get robbed.”
This snippet of a conversation I had with an acquaintance is a reflection of people’s misperception about the safety of a borough based on their “loitering” neighbors, unmaintained public space, and negative media representation. Yet, based on the nyc.gov crimes map, from 01/2018 to 10/2019, the posh Hell’s Kitchen has more crimes per capita in comparison to the notorious West Bed Stuy (~40 versus ~32 crimes/1000 residents). Very often, outsiders who don’t make an effort or have the opportunity to get to know a community fail to establish the familiarity that gives a sense of safety and belonging. Hence, the Urban Immersive Project seeks to break the false perceptions by allowing show-comers—local & new residents, as well as visitors—to interact with members of the community and experience the neighborhood in a new light.
It is also naturally in everyone’s interest to reduce crime in their own neighborhood. Utilizing the principles of placemaking, scenic elements such as lighting, public art, and zones of gathering attract curiosity and create “sticky spaces” that encourage “eyes on the street.” Therefore, the project is able to improve the quality of a neighborhood and dissuade crime activity, all without the effects of gentrification.
Who will the show involve and support?
The best part about show-production and community-engagement is that they are both built on the foundation of collaboration. The Urban Immersive Project is a team effort between the creative and local community; it aims to support both the arts and placemaking. Though there is a structural distinction between the artists and the locals, the priority when building the creative and production team is given to those who are both creatives and residents of the respective community. This encourages the work to stay authentic, and truly supports the local economy.
Local Community
Small business owners
Municipalities
Residents
Shared public space
Visitors
Creative Community
Writers + Historians
Artists + Designers + Fabricators
Composers
Producers + Managers + PAs
Performers
An ecosystem of profit and support generated by and for the community.
Benefits, Future, and Beyond
How fascinating would it be to walk by a piece of public art during the day, only to later realize that it is in fact a secret hideout used during the Urban Immersive Project? This is only one imaginary example of how something built for the show has the duality to also be a tool for placemaking.
With the success of the Urban Immersive Project, the neighborhood will benefit from the positive effects of placemaking with the attraction generated by the show. As the popularity of the show grows, the show itself will also continue to evolve, as commonly preached by Project for Public Spaces, the work of placemaking is never “done.”
Visibly
The streets will look cleaner with new zones of gathering and vegetation
Pedestrian safety will improve
Local businesses will thrive and new businesses will sprout with opportunities
Socially
Crime rate will decrease
The community will be united by the collaborative effort of putting the show together and gaining from it
The profits made from ticket sales will be a new stream of income for the community to continue raising the quality of their neighborhood
Adaptability
As more neighborhoods begin developing their own urban immersive show, more opportunities will arise for artists and creators to not only practice their passion and profession, but also contribute to the overall betterment of any metropolitan city in the world. This format will showcase against the stereotype and prove that the arts can be utilitarian, accessible, and approachable.