Site plan #1: selection

Goal: Decide where you want to hold your event by narrowing site options; settle on a single 1 after final research.

Street Works centers place & public space, which means thinking tangibly about the dynamics of an event in a specific public place. This includes the art of spatial navigation, the practical logistics of things like parking, and neighbor solidarity. At the first step, all you need to do is make a decision on where you want to work and commit to.

Step 1: Integrate values and design principles

Street Works’ values and design principles shape where & how we work, not just what we make. Choosing a place means entering a living system with its own histories, power dynamics, caretakers, and constraints.

Your approach to decision-making will be based on your own values (see creating Standards). Below, we share how we bring values into site decisions. The purpose is not to qualify “good or bad” but to surface responsibilities, limits, and care that may shape how —or whether — you work in a place.

• Who is this space for, and how are we entering it?

  • Who uses this space regularly, at what times, and for what purposes?

  • Who is monitored, displaced, or made uncomfortable here, and by whom?

  • What relationships (formal or informal) already exist between this place and institutions, organizers, or residents?

  • Are we guests, neighbors, caretakers, or passers-through? What does that imply?

• What does this space require of us?

  • What forms of care, maintenance, or protection does this space already depend on?

  • What adaptations would be required to work here without causing harm (environmental, physical, social)?

  • Do we have the capacity, time, and resources to meet those needs responsibly?

  • What would it mean—in concrete terms—to leave the space better than we found it?

• What kind of relationship are we able to sustain?

  • Can we return to this space beyond a single event, or stay present over time?

  • Are we positioned to partner with people connected to this place?

  • Does choosing this site align with the kind of stewardship we can realistically commit to?

Step 2: Identify Your Criteria

Create a checklist of your artistic and practical requirements. Rather than expecting a space to fit your vision, consider how your event can adapt to the space or you can bring things with you to make it work. You only need to assess sites for what you really need; ask yourself if you need any of the following:

• A flat or smoothe ground for installations or performances?

• Walls for mounting or projection?

• A certain size of open space, seating, and/or clear pathways?

• High foot traffic, or a more intimate setting?

• A power sources, seating, and shade available?

• Convenient location for you and your collaborators?

• Clear pathways, wheelchair access, and public transport options?

• Sun? Shade? Sun from a certain direction?

• Protection from wind or other weather conditions?

• Frequent access? (What if it is part of a packed event schedule?)

• Public restrooms or nearby facilities available?

• Access to power sources?

Step 3: Visit & Assess

Use your checklist of priorities to assess narrow down your options to 2-3 potential locations and visit them to evaluate how they meet your criteria. When you’re there:

• Sketch site layouts: Mark entry points, installation zones, and audience areas.

• Talk to nearby businesses or residents: Get to know how the space is used and meet people who use it!