The Role of Public Art Education in Urban Spaces: Pathways to Fostering Cultural Identity and Social Cohesion

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-378-8_27How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Public Art Education; Urban Space; Cultural Identity; Social Cohesion; Multicultural Exchange

Abstract

As global urbanization accelerates, the intricate interactions among multiple cultural groups introduce new complexities to the maintenance and evolution of cultural identity and social cohesion within cities. Public art, an easily accessible and visually compelling medium, transcends socio-cultural and linguistic barriers, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping urban cultural identity and fortifying community members’ sense of participation and belonging. More than a creative artifact, public art can inspire communal dialogue, reflect local heritage, and invite residents to engage with the socio-cultural fabric of their environment. Public art education, in turn, cultivates the public’s ability to appreciate, interpret, and create art, offering platforms for collective creation, public discourse, and participatory workshops. These educational processes weave multiple voices into the urban narrative and can serve as catalysts for cross-cultural understanding and improved social inclusion. This study explores the theoretical underpinnings and practical implementations of public art education as a means to shape cultural identity, enhance social cohesion, and improve the humanistic quality of urban spaces. Examining the dynamic interplay between public art education, urban cultural identity, and social cohesion, and drawing from international case studies and empirical research, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of public art education initiatives in fostering cross-cultural dialogue and community participation. It also articulates strategic recommendations for systematically integrating public art education into urban planning, community development, and educational policy frameworks. By leveraging the full potential of public art education, modern cities can nurture an organic, inclusive socio-cultural milieu, contribute to sustainable urban growth, and foster the co-existence of diverse cultural communities.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Zhuo Wang
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/03/31
TI  - The Role of Public Art Education in Urban Spaces: Pathways to Fostering Cultural Identity and Social Cohesion
BT  - Proceedings of the 2024 4th International Conference on Public Art and Human Development (ICPAHD 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 222
EP  - 230
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-378-8_27
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-378-8_27
ID  - Wang2025
ER  -