in·fra·cul·ture (
nfr-klchr) n.
1. The volunteers and visionaries who form an underlying
base or foundation of a creative “not just the arts” community organization or system.
2. The "basic-needs" facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a creative “not just the arts” community or
society. Includes the citizens themselves, community centres, community gardens with
wood ovens and outdoor kitchens, farmers’ markets and community-run food centres, and neighbourhood social networks (virtual or online).
Infraculutre describes tangible grassroot/
local/community “creative, yet not always artistic” initiatives and social networks. In Toronto, Canada our “infraculture” is populated by creative
people working well under our cultural and artistic organizations--
People who are CREATING something OTHER than art or
music for those who have not forgotten to appreciate our most basic needs. Needs like good food, lower crime rates and healthy/spiritual community interaction and involvement.
Those who create the most basic “infraculture”, are average citizens who find new and inexpensive ways to help the communities in which they live. They are not always artists, musicians or dancers-- they are gardeners, bakers and gleaners(fruitpickers). They are “Community Activators and Animators”. Some are municipal workers and some are your neighbourhood volunteers, but all of them find helpful ways to interact with our cities and residents. At this time, their “truly creative” community
work sometimes goes unnoticed and most often underappreciated or misunderstood. At times they must even fight their
local municipalities for the positive change in their communities. They can, and are, creating change with very little
money.
One of the original meanings of the word “culture” does not involve the arts but refers to the cultivation of soil. These new urban farmers
work to create community gardens and greenhouses to grow
local produce; these new urban bakers tend wood ovens in our parks; these new urban gleaners organize and
train networks of
fruit pickers to harvest the untended urban fruit trees and vines on public and private urban land.
Infraculture. Because art,
music and dance should come second to food, shelter and safety.
