The department is staffed by local artist Gillian Nordlund, one of the recipients of 2017 Foundation of Art Award. The artist will host regular open hours and administer a test to gauge creative inspiration. Upon completion of the test, the applicants will receive a personalized license to make art.

For updates and newly licensed artists follow their Instagram  @artistic_license_dept

Hours:

• Sundays, 12pm – 5pm
• Mondays, 12pm – 5pm

Artist Statement:

The Artistic License Dept. exists as a service to the public. Inspired by an obvious play on words its intentions are to encourage and support participants’ creativity and imagination.

In this performance, participants take a simple test based on fundamental aspects of art making as well as their own opinions. They are then issued an art making “license” upon completion of the test.

By putting art and art making into the context of a familiar and mundane environment such as a DMV style situation, the artist intends to take away some of the mysticism and intimidating feelings associated with artists and art-making. The Artistic License DEPT. intends to serve as a reminder that the ability to create is an innate human quality. Do you need a license to practice art? No, but sometimes evidence that you can is encouraging.

-Gillian Nordlund

This project is part of TRANSFORM: Theater District culture and transportation plan development.

• Learn about the plan to Transform Theater District