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Arts & Communication

ARTICLE
Performance arts, public space, and early

childhood

Suzana Schmidt Viganó*
Department of Performing Arts, School of Arts and Communications, University of São Paulo, São
Paulo, Brazil

Abstract
This article delves into the role of esthetic experience in multidimensional early
childhood development and the revitalization of public spaces as intergenerational
convivial experiences. To this end, it examines the artistic action EmQuanta, which
was carried out in squares and parks in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, after the
covid-19 pandemic. Dialogues are established with authors in the fields of esthetics,
performance, art education, and public policies to reflect on the contribution of the
performing arts to the esthetic experience during early childhood, intergenerational
coexistence, and the reinvention of the uses of public space, in contact with the vital
power of green spaces within the city. The analysis reveals that the artistic action in
question contributes to the implementation of public policies for early childhood
in São Paulo by creating leisure spaces dedicated to this demographic, fostering a
qualified convivial experience, and contributing to child development through an
esthetic experience focused on the unique needs of early childhood.

Keywords: Esthetic experience; Early childhood; Performance arts; Cultural policies;
*Corresponding author: EmQuanta
Suzana Schmidt Viganó
(suzanaschmidt21@usp.br)
Citation: Viganó SS. Performance
arts, public space, and early 1. Introduction: How we approach art and childhood as an object
childhood. Arts & Communication.
2024;2(1):1668. of research
https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1668 “The development of artistic creation is something that cannot be experienced
Received: August 23, 2023 in isolation. It is a whole that involves forms, language, play, body, experiments,
Accepted: October 14, 2023 materials, places, sensations, and even coexistence.”
Published Online: November 15, 2023 Anna Marie Holm
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). Starting with the question: Why should society care about young children? This article
This is an Open Access article reflects on the integration of childhood into the broader societal framework through
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution artistic experiences. To that end, we explored esthetic experiences as a component of
License, permitting distribution, multidimensional development and their potential realization through the artistic action
and reproduction in any medium, by Núcleo Quanta in a series of performative actions in squares and parks within the city
provided the original work is
properly cited. of São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the revival of public spaces following the social distancing
measures implemented during the covid-19 pandemic.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with We reflect on how artistic actions can contribute not only to the esthetic experiences
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional of childhood but also to intergenerational coexistence, the expansion of adult modes
affiliations. of cohabitation, the reinvention of public space usage, and the reconnection with the

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1668