The report included several recommendations, including providing training for relevant public officials on the concept of inclusive public spaces and asked to “ensure that administrative processes do not represent an excessive burden for the use of public spaces, including by publishing transparent information about them.” PUBLIC SPACE, ‘MONU-MEN’ DOMINATION, AND VISUAL POLLUTION Public spaces worldwide are dominated by “sculptures of power” – mostly symbols of nationalism/patriotism and mostly “monu-men” – sculptures of men. Already in the late 1960’s women artists and activists started occupying public spaces with counter art, and theatre groups were making use of performance art - in many ways like what we now understand as flash-mobs. These hit and run strategies can be very effective at addressing various issues, especially when authorities or private companies are less willing to accept the right to make use of public space for various manifestations. As public spaces are increasingly commercialized, buildings are visually polluted by digital billboards, advertising banners, and bus stops are commercialized by advertising companies which pay city councils for their use. Some even offer special packages, which include rain and wind shelters combined with advertising. But those contracts are seldom published by the city councils, and it is entirely up to the advertising companies to decide which commercials they will accept. This has created counter-reactions in some countries, not least through graffiti or changing the messages of commercials by adding stickers, which obfuscate commercial and (in some cases) sexist advertising. However, some cities have dealt with the worst of their visual pollution. In Sao Paulo, the Clean City Law took down 15,000 billboards in one go in 2007 (they are now being reintroduced, but in a much more controlled fashion). In 2014, the French WANT TO KNOW MORE? city of Grenoble became the first in Europe to ban street advertising, replacing it with Clean City Law trees and community noticeboards. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ europes-first-ad-free-city-replacesWHAT CAN YOU DO? billboards-trees/ When you wish to make use of public space https://awarewomenartists.com/ for artistic expressions consider the following: en/decouvrir/oeuvres-feministesmonumentales-dans-lespace-public/ • Do you need a permission? • Who provides permissions, and do they respect national and local legislations or regulations when doing so? https://thecityateyelevel.com/ stories/advertising-takeover-of-thepublic-spaces/ • Are these regulations reasonable? If not, who can you influence to change this? https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/ content/advertising-and-the-city-arebillboards-a-threat-to-public-space/ facilities-grounds • If you don’t get permission, which strategies do you have? What risks would you take and how will you document this? 37