The Micropolitics of Performance: Pop-up Art as a Complementary Method for Civic Engagement and Public Participation

Abstract

Scholars typically categorize pop-ups as part of insurgent do-it-yourself (DIY) movements or simple creative placemaking events. It is unclear if these dominant narratives are accurate representations or how these acts of temporary urbanism are connected to planning. This study serves two connected purposes: to identify how pop-ups are organized and explore how pop-ups combine political art and urbanism to create opportunities for civic engagement and public participation. Drawing on a national sample of principal cities and a comparative study of exemplar art pop-ups in Austin, Baltimore, and Boise, this research addresses how pop-up organizers influence urban planning and urban policy from outside traditional channels. Findings suggest that these events are undertaken by diverse sets of organizations and partnerships to increase civic dialogue and educate citizens. The prevalence of pop-ups in public space and their focus on urban issues suggests the need to integrate these complementary strategies into planning practice. More broadly, the study shows that art pop-ups can be a legitimate form of urban planning rather than performing purely as urban entertainment.