Post 9-11, post Iraqi invasion, post (we wish) the War on Terrorism, there is a great deal of interest in safety in the public domain, both in the political realm and among the general public. Individuals and society as a whole are increasingly concerned with protection and security for themselves and their material possessions. These newfound worries have repercussions for the layout, design and management of public and semi-public places, imposing new demands on artists, designers, commissioners and policy makers. Open 6 examines the root causes of the public desire for safety. The authors consider theoretical and practical scenarios, proposals and visions from the realms of art, architecture, philosophy, and politics, in an attempt to lay bare something of the modern-day safety paradigm. Alternatively, the authors argue the need for new models. The contributors also provide insight into the current state of the modern-day practicalities of the aesthetics and ethics of safety in essays which directly consider real places or (art) projects.