Elastic City is a participatory arts organization that engages the public in poetic, sensory, and socially minded explorations of urban life. Artists commissioned by Elastic City create participatory walks, workshops, and performances – often using inventive sensory techniques, reimagined folk rituals, and other exercises – to investigate the rhythms, communities, and politics of the cities we inhabit. Participants become active collaborators in shaping experiences that transform ordinary streets and spaces into sites of discovery, reflection, and playful intervention.

Since its launch in 2010, Elastic City has produced over 130 sets of walks and performances led by more than 100 artists, reaching cities worldwide including New York, Buenos Aires, Berlin, San Francisco, Tokyo, Montreal, and Paris. Its programs include artist-led workshops (“ways”), public talks, and large-scale participatory festivals. The organization has partnered with institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art, The New Museum, Columbia University GSAPP, Brooklyn Museum, and Friends of the High Line.

Directed by Todd Shalom, Elastic City continues to champion creative engagement with urban environments, encouraging audiences to experience cities as living, malleable spaces. A book detailing artist prompts and guides for participatory walks was scheduled for release in 2019, further extending the project’s mission to make the public active participants in the poetic life of the city.