Our Story

The Mission

We strive to positively impact under-utilized public spaces with simple red swings.

The Story

The Red Swing Project started in February 2007 as an urban intervention within the city of Austin, Texas. Our swings are made of red painted wood and hung using retired rock climbing rope. Over the years, we have hung over 150 red swings in USA, India, Thailand, Brasil, Taiwan, South Korea, France, Spain, Portugal, Haiti and Poland.

The red swing remains the constant while the environmental backdrops and cultural contexts change from place to place.

We pay particular attention to public response to this familiar object set in an unfamiliar place.

Some questions we ask ourselves:

• Why does public reaction differ from place to place?
• What different roles can swings play for each individual?
• How might a swing in India look different from a swing New Orleans?
• Why would someone cut down a simple red swing?
• What happens to a swing when it is cut down? Where does it go?

The Red Swing Project now offers a ‘how-to’ instructional video and manual, enabling anyone to join the project and improve their surroundings.

Look for more swings in a city near you.