Community-engaged arts as a tool for social change : a case study on the city of Philadelphia mural arts program

Abstract EN

This Study Aims to illuminate the correlation between civic engagement and community-engaged arts.

As art and politics often correlate to each other, in the early 1990's "new genre public art" has developed out of the previous traditional public art movements with decoration purposes (Lacy, 1995).

These New genres have functioned as social intervention channels.

this essay will carry out the study of the correlation between the new socio-political phenomenon and public art practices as: (participatory art, dialogic art, community-based art, activist art).

Using Art-based research methodology the researcher intends to investigate contemporary community-based art practices and its contribution to local communities’ development.

A case study on the city of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program is carried out in this research.