A Public Hearing
Arts Catalyst
04–07–2016
︎ Arts Catalyst residency
︎ Centre for Research Architecture ︎ Exhibition and workshop
Drawing on procedural documents from public hearings* as a
starting point, this workshop considered the conditions and protocols under
which public speaking is conducted. Beginning with a review of speaking in
formalized settings – such as court, council chambers or in parliament – we
will then look to different, informal, modes of speaking – such as gossiping,
complaining, whispering – and invited participants to draw up an alternate set
of instruction manuals that give priority to such forms of speech. The
latter part of the workshop looked at how formal instructions are registered
and performed, revealing the impact this has on what gets said and who gets
heard, and how architecture changes the register of sound, affecting the ways
speech is delivered and supported.
*Public hearings originated from the process of the enclosure of public lands in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were held in order to create a petition to parliament to enclose the land, and then later to hear objections to the act created by Parliament. Today, public hearings are still used when dealing with both public lands and private properties.
*Public hearings originated from the process of the enclosure of public lands in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were held in order to create a petition to parliament to enclose the land, and then later to hear objections to the act created by Parliament. Today, public hearings are still used when dealing with both public lands and private properties.
