Citizen Artist Reading Group: Session 9

High Performance magazine, and later The Citizen Artist anthology, documented and amplified the voices of artists working outside traditional institutions, embedding their practice in the fabric of civic life. By revisiting these groundbreaking publications, we aim to spark dialogue, collective memory, and action—drawing from a powerful lineage of artist-led civic engagement and radical experimentation. 

The Citizen Artist Reading Group is a year-long inquiry into the intersections of art, politics, performance, and community. Meeting monthly from January–December 2026, the group will engage foundational and experimental texts that have shaped the fields of social practice, community-based performance, and art/life. Together, participants will explore themes ranging from feminist lineages and environmental interventions to activism, justice, and collective transformation.

All sessions are virtual and public. Special guests will be invited to each session. 

Session 9 – September 20, 2026
Readings:

• Living with the Doors Open: An Interview with Blondell Cummings – Veta Goler (p. 225)

• We Are All Connected: Elders Share the Arts – Susan Perlstein (p. 235)

• Miles from Nowhere: Teaching Dance in Prison – Leslie Neal (p. 243)

• Maintaining Humanity: An Interview with Grady Hillman about Arts-in-Corrections – Steven Durland (p. 251)

Guests: Suchi Branfman