How do you deal with power relations occurring in socially cooperative work?

Martin Krenn: Mary Jane Jacob

I experienced, in my own practice, situations of negotiation with the public and authorities that lead to a different, unexpected outcome, which sometimes interestingly could also be more exciting than the original intention. What do you think about the power relations and hierarchies occurring in cooperation between artists, the public and minorities? What are your methods to avoid undemocratic power structures and hierarchical situations that can also appear in participatory art projects? Have you ever had difficult discussions with artists, because you noticed that the project maybe goes in the wrong direction? As a curator you are also dependant on artists.