About BRAF

Our Values

Interactivity - We value art that prompts the viewer to act. We like art that can be experienced in more ways than visually. We are fans of art that is meant to be touched, heard or experienced, as well as viewed; art that requires human interaction to complete the piece, that prompts people to interact with one another, that responds to participants and to its environment.

Community – We value art that builds community through education, collaboration and activism. We see that when an art project arises from the need of a community, it belongs to the public and exists for the benefit of all. When a work is freely accessible to the public, civic in scope and inclusive by nature, it challenges the traditional perspectives on art. When an interactive artwork becomes part of a community, it demands the stewardship of its citizens, engendering ownership, responsibility and pride.

Education – We value art that goes beyond artistic expression; we value art that educates. We support projects that prioritize collaboration with local youth and educators. We know that, with guidance and support, the creation of art is a most powerful tool to educate youth about the pressing concerns of their times, including issues around the environment, renewable energy, and climate change.

Activism – We value art that causes people to reflect on the larger community.  We see art as a way to connect individuals, and call them to action. We commend art that challenges individuals to reexamine their everyday lives and their role in their immediate and larger community. We support art that educates about the alternatives to consumerism and the reduction of environmental impact. Through art, we seek to promote the use renewable resources, environmental justice and social responsibility.

	REBAR, an artist collective and recipients of a grant  through our  Grants-to Artists program, sit atop their pedal powered park, created for Park(ing) Day 2007.  Park(ing) Day, an event created by REBAR in 2005, has gathered thousands of participants around the globe to transform ordinary parking places into  temporary public parks ... at least until the meter runs out. Photo: Sasha Wizansky.
	A detail of the sculpture Stan: Submerging Man by artist Finley Fryer. First exhibited at Burning Man in 1999, it found new admirers in Victoria Manalo Draves Park while on view from July through November, 2007.           Photo by Chuck Revell, 2007