Arts debate

Back to Features home

Is free running art?

12 April 2007 by Jo Saucek 29 comments

Is free running art?

Is Hip-Hop or DJ-ing art? Is free running an urban expression or a towny aggression? Watch this film then have your say online! Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.

Open the file in a new window

Contrarian said at 4:44 PM, 12 April 2007

If we're going to insist on that kind of labelling, then yes (it's also a sport - no need for that to be a contradiction).

And obviously Hip-Hop, DJ-ing and graffiti are arts too. Hell, even opera is.

The 'But is it art' debate really doesn't lead very far. Ask instead 'But is it interesting?', or 'creative', inspiring', 'life-enhancing'... anything that engages with why it might be worthwhile!

Paul said at 4:38 PM, 13 April 2007

Agree with the comment above. It's kind of a pointless question and worrying to see that ACE thinks it's important enough to warrant producing a video on.

And to ask if hip-hop and DJing are art is plain disrespectful to a large number of practising artists and not a little ignorant. Hip-hop is a culture rather than an artform. The four main strands of hip-hop - rap, DJing, bboying (or breakdancing if you like) and graffiti - are all undeniably artforms in that they express the world through creative forms, be they movement, wordplay, the creation of new music or visual art.

Worrying stuff...ACE is more out of touch than I thought...

indy said at 5:32 PM, 13 April 2007

The BHHF (Brighton Hip Hop Festival) is the UKs only and largest celebration of Hip Hop Culture. As the comment above has illustrated it IS a Culture and there are huge communities where Hip Hop comes from practising all the relevant aspects.

2007 is BHHF's 4th year and each year we are approached not only by those within the Hip Hop world, but by those wanting and engaging to know more. Our levels of social responsibility have grown such that our our partner Educational Programme has tripled in size but this week we found our funding had been cut.

The journey for public funders to fully understand the all importance of the Hip Hop culture within the arts, education, health, community and social importance has been challenging.....is the understanding of it changing?...i think VERY slowly and it only comes from funders who invest their individual time in 'getting it'!!!

BHHF is not for profit and in 2006 we supported 700 local, regional, national and international artists by providing the largest showcasing platform possible. BHHF programme has consisted of many events over its 2week focus every July.

BHHF is Hip Hop 100%. Hip Hop is everywhere around everyone so you cant box it up - in our opinion! Finally there are many Hip Hop artists working incredibly hard in the UK despite misconceptions of what exactly Hip Hop is - they are professional, they deserve the recognition in their own right and be seen as valid just as much as theatre or opera is!

Funders shouldnt be scared of investing in areas of work they dont fully understand or in their opinion are 'underdeveloped' - give it a go...you might find yourself busting some moves on the floor!

Please do check us out at www.bhhf.org

The Brighton To London Poet said at 6:37 PM, 13 April 2007

It concerns me that you, the arts council, is struggling to define something you fund, art. If you are not sure what defines art then do what most other peole do and google it.

According to Wikipedia:

The term art is used to describe a particular type of creative production generated by human beings, and the term usually implies some degree of aesthetic value. An artist makes a work of art for various purposes, such as creating an experience for others or as part of a ritual. There is no general agreed-upon definition of art, since defining the boundaries of "art" is subjective, but the impetus for art is often called human creativity.

Or if you pefer a more conservative approach to definitons try www.dictionary.com. They come up with 17 different definitions of art.

Arts Council, my comment to you is art can be anything and therefore I understand why you question certain genres like free running. I don't think that is the issue at hand. Your question implies something more intrinsic about your organisation.

The real issue seems to be that as funders who seem to be questioning what to fund and what not fund like free running.

Free running is a reflection of how art has evolved and how people are expressing themselves. And as funders, you can make a real difference to how people in society see these new forms of art that are different, cutting edge and evolving over time.

You can make the difference by taking risks and funding projects which truly demonstrate creativity, the projects which break boundaries, challenge norms and bring people in the community together to experience newness and fresh approaches to art.

Don't be afraid to be different. Artists are behind you if you do so. However, a word of warning, the sense in some parts of the artistic community at the moment is the arts council is a beauracratic and conservative oprganisation not willing to take risks and embrace new art forms. It seems that unless you cross the boxes in a particular way on your application forms then you don't have much of a chance of getting money. What about people who can't articulate themselves very well, or people who find forms overwhelming? How accessible are you as an organisation? These are the questions you should be asking, questions of access and particpation, not 'what is art?'. These questions will help you become more accessible and aid you in knowing what projects to fund because you will be closer to the ground not stuck in your offcies asking perennial questions like this one.

We all know what art is, if you don't then you have missed the boat along time ago.

Don't let the artistc community down. Your job is to fund artistic endeavours and if you can't work out what defines art then how can the artistic community have any faith in you at all?

Ryan Doyle said at 9:41 PM, 13 April 2007

i think that art in free running is not so much the outcome of ones abilities, but the molding of ones body to produce such an outcome, the training of the body and mentality of the brain's areal awareness is the true art, self discipline!

Hardish said at 2:16 PM, 16 April 2007

My first step into peformance ARTS was when I was introduced to break dancing in 1983, which led to my interest in graffiti, rap and DJing. The performance elements of Hip-Hop led me to take an interest in acting and dance and then the whole performance arts sector. Art = Creativity = Culture comes in all shapes and sizes and the less institutionalised art forms are sometimes the only in-roads for many people wanting to pursue a career in the arts. As a sector (visual arts, dance, theatre, etc.) we need to be open to the diverse creativity and ideas that are out there in our communities as these artists and their ideas are key to sustaining the ARTS and keeping it fresh. Of course, there are individuals within the Arts Council who are not only aware of these art forms but support them but as an institution and sector, a greater awareness and willingness to commit needs to take place.

Holly said at 7:16 PM, 17 April 2007

Of course it's an art.

Free-running is an expression of feelings, emotions and desire in an energetic form.

TBH, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be.

Tanya Felts said at 6:35 PM, 18 April 2007

I believe everyone should be able to express their artistic personality, however dont think it is fair to enforce it on others in the process. I love graffiti art when it is done well. As I study in Nottingham I see many works of art on walls within the city, however there are places that are just vanderlism like on private property of shop shutters, sides of houses etc that look like someone has sprayed a squiggle and run before being caught. I think that there should either be more organisations, youth groups for example that set up areas to do it legally, perhaps local busineses getting involved. It may help the artists to get proffeional work using their talents in advertising etc. I know that there are a few british graffiti artists that have people paying high prices for a canvas of their works and Temper is being commissioned to do a piece for The Cube in Birmingham!

Jill Greig said at 4:15 PM, 20 April 2007

Free running is fab. I love it, to watch the creativity of movement is so inspiring, the use of found landscapes so exciting. Of course it's art, and sport and hugely creative, young, inclusive and vibrant.

Chill said at 6:58 PM, 20 April 2007

I'm thinkin Free-Runnin "is an" art,
an expression of any individuals talent should be classed as "art".
I live a hip-hop lifestyle and from spray can to the music to the dancing...
what could it be called except "ART".

Lou said at 6:25 PM, 24 April 2007

As a Tracuer i think that Free running is an art form. The movement across an environment by a free runner is no different to a dancer across a stage or an artist across a canvas.
Art is a way of expressing yourself and free runners express themselves using there surroundings.

Sp!ke said at 12:16 AM, 25 April 2007

I'm sorry, but the part of the question regarding hip hop and its inclusion as art is a insult to hip hop culture and all those who partake in it. Hip hop, in all its elements, is undoubtably 'art'. The most obvious artistic element being graffiti, which must surely be seen as art, whether it be a simplistic tag on the railway line or a Banksy piece in the gallery. Tagging could well be seen as the contemporary equivalent to the rock paintings of antiquity. The other facets of hip hop - rap, DJ'ing & breakin' should also be defined as art. They could be perceived as postmodern art - DJ'ing and scratch mixing as bricolage and pastiche with their DIY aesthetics; rapping as artistic subcultural resistance through 'organic intellectuals' such as KRS1 (or how's about the modern Shakespeare?); & breakdancing as an artform to equal ballet or theatre.
Hip hop itself is a very contradictory arena, but is without a doubt worthy of the title 'art', even if these days many aspects of the culture could be more accurately termed 'commodities'.

Tozz said at 11:15 PM, 25 April 2007

Of course its art, but a very physical and disiplined art, which also crosses over to sport which its physcial attributes like Break Dancing or Hip Hop theatre

matt m (lmlpaintteam) said at 3:34 PM, 26 April 2007

As Paul (below a couple of messages) says.. it is disrespectful to ask the question "is hip-hop or djing art"
you just offended a mass amount of your target audience me thinks... oops.

surely the debate in an overall sense is what the people want out of art.. not whats art and whats not. Would you have questioned the great masters work when they got experimental ACE? just because it didn't fit into your blinkered view??

Art is whatever anyone, anywhere feels like doing or making and then calling art. Not what ACE says is and isn't.

Overall ACE should be encouraging things that are new and exciting, particularly for the young.. like free running. If the people want it, let em have it! after all this is democracy right?

matt m
a midlands graffiti ARTIST

spinnermagazine.co.uk

eddie said at 2:54 PM, 30 April 2007

I feel that free running is just a gimmick, being used by athletes to get themselves recognised. The real art is pure parkour which is the art of getting from A to B by flowing like water. It is a dialogue between the built environment and mans ability to overcome obstacles in a creative way. Parkour is art - free running isn't.

charlotte said at 7:29 AM, 02 May 2007

I absolutely think that free running is an art form. It's so expressive and creative, with the 'athletes' making decisions that challenge their abilities while offering the most style. It can be aligned to dance - ballerinas are actually incredibly athletic, and work very hard at their physique, yet they bring beauty to their art through their physical strength and effortless expression.

The very fact that free running has become so closely aligned with hip hop culture just goes to show that it's been embraced and accepted as a further expression of a culture that is rooted in art and creativity, so as far as I'm concerned free running can stand proud alongside graffiti, scratching, beat-boxing and breaking. Wish I could do it.

Ian said at 11:37 AM, 03 May 2007

No it isn't art. Its running around.

Tim Abrahams said at 3:58 PM, 03 May 2007

No.

AJ said at 8:29 AM, 11 May 2007

I teach a parkour class every week in Ambleside and have a parkour display team, we have commercial sponsors and have been hired to perform by many ACE funded events.
Parkour is an art, there seems to be a consensus. So lets ask a more interesting questions,
is it a performance art? or a martial art?
is it also a sport?
is it also a science?
are any of these catergories mutually exclusive or can pk be all of these things?
PK is originated from the practice of David Belle and Sebastien Foucan, who were inspired by Davids father raymond who was a fire fighter and ex military. raymond was inspired by the teachings of georges herbert who wrote a book called le method naturale which was aimed at advising the army on effective training systems for soldiers, the book was inspired by herbert's observations of indigenous tribes in africa while he was posted there in the french army.
so we have an art form born out of a scientific approach to warfare.
how paradoxical (is that a word?)
Is the practice of Parkour an evolutionary advance or have we come full circle to discover our ancestors new what they were doing?
As far as issues of access go, as raised by the poet, Parkour has exploded precisely because it is accessible, you only need your imagination to join in. The arts council is the antithesis and is very difficult to access , it is like an exclusive country club for funding sluts. Parkour is about free expression and constantly transcending barriers and parameters, the arts council is about limiting expression to established recognised art forms, catergorising, classifying, and therefore restricting art growth.
hip hop arts are stronger with out ACE, the reason why they are so prevalent in contemporary popular culture is because when you don't rely on funding you have to "keep it real"

Bill Cox said at 4:53 PM, 04 June 2007

The question as to whether or not something is art can't be answered except in the context of a social contract between a producer and a viewer/listener/experiencer. The idea that any authority can define, regulate, quality control or debar something as art no longer has any relevance. We still have organizations that think they can do these things by having control of funding and access to display but they only show themselves to be outmoded when they attempt to pontificate and manipulate. The fact is that if a viewer etc. considers something as art then it is. And the producer of that object/event is an artist. End of story.

mani ray said at 7:08 PM, 19 June 2007

Hip Hop's main elements are most definately Art (if it needs to be defined)...DJing, MCing/Rappin, Beatboxin, Graffiti and B-Boyin (Breakin) are all made up of creative expressions and performances. What makes 3 of Hip Hop's artforms truly amazing in their creativity is the lack of need for items beyond those present in humans; together they provide an all round performance event.

mani ray said at 7:11 PM, 19 June 2007

Mani Ray
Director
Invizible Circle Education