@MUAC #ArteÚtil #UnhelpfulArtInstitution?

One of the first assignments we were given at Escuela de Arte Útil or useful art school was to create phrases that were supposed to be placed on the outdoor marquee of the museum. Many options were brainstormed and delivered, and since we had been provided of many examples of useful art, we all sought for phrases that had some kind of purpose and impact. Wasn't this the idea behind every social action, every "collaborative initiation" the artists have instilled within us so far?

Our democratically chosen winner phrase was "Every university (UNAM) student, comes for free to the museum". The marquee changes every week, so we thought this was an interesting phrase that for a short period of time, showed how art could become a mean to subvert institutional power towards common good.

The reply from the university museum (MUAC) was NO.

Is this #UnhelpfulArtInstitution at play? An art institution acting as a façade for whatever happens within it? Is this an example of a space that abides to no commitment to the practice of conceptual and artistic purposes developed in and for that context? A mute bystander? If so, I'm really dissapointed to say the least...

*** Update: Apparently the phrase will be placed, let's see if free of charge was achieved...