Terry Smith Revisits 'The Provincialism Problem' Article from 1974 Artforum

Terry Smith's 1974 Artforum article 'The Provincialism Problem' critiqued a New York-centered world art system that positioned artists elsewhere as secondary. This framework created inequitable relationships affecting all participants, including those in New York. Smith called for artists, critics, and curators to fundamentally rethink these dynamics. The article has been frequently referenced over decades, often to contrast perceived improvements in the international artworld. Smith examines the Australian artworld's awareness of these issues during the 1960s and 1970s. He also analyzes the New York context of the early to mid-1970s that prompted the article's creation alongside other Art & Language group members. Critical responses to the article since its publication are noted, and center-periphery theory aspects are explored. Smith concludes that provincialism hasn't been solved but has been globalized and neoliberalized, remaining problematic today. The article was originally published in Artforum's September 1974 issue and is currently available through MIT Press with subscription access.