Participatory performing arts in a cultural mediation perspective: cultural and social scope

This study deals with the cultural and social scope of participatory live performance from a cultural mediation perspective. While research on participatory art has developed in recent years, there is a lack of studies on participatory live performance. A case study was conducted on La Vague project by French musician and composer Eryck Abecassis, invited by the Escales Improbables de Montreal (EIM), in 2013. Three types of actors who participated in La Vague: the professional artist, members of the EIM staff, and participants. The results show the existence of the cultural and social scope of the project. The study reveals the presence of common issues and challenges in the organization of participatory and non-participatory art projects, as well as problems related to the presence of nonprofessionals. Finally, the study reveals the influence of participation in the organization of the event on the lived experience of the different categories of project actors.