Art in Public Spaces.
Creative Cultural Productions
Authors
MSc. Iris CANAJ, POLIS University and University of Arts, Tirana, Albania
Abstract
What is an urban space? What is culture, street art and vandalism? Public art not only brings the
audience closer to artistic expression but also enhances the city’s aesthetic appeal, which in turn fosters
the emotional well-being of its residents and stimulates tourism, ultimately impacting the country’s
economy. Creating art in public spaces – whether through multidisciplinary festivals like the Festival of
Street Performers, book-shaped benches like the “Stolibër” project, urban installations like “Reja – The
Cloud”, murals, or initiatives like “The Visual Park” (Car-Free Day transforming neighborhoods into
communal engagement spaces) – represents a form of artivism. But what is artivism? These artistic
interventions do not merely entertain or beautify urban spaces; they also serve an educational purpose
by addressing themes such as architecture, cultural heritage preservation, environmental awareness,
socialization, tourism promotion, economic sustainability and more. Public space, as a shared domain,
should be utilized by and for the community while also being protected by it – yet, it is often vandalized
by the very people it serves. But where is the line between artivism in public spaces and vandalism? How
can an artist make creative use of public space without damaging the city or violating legal regulations?
How do we use the space? Do laws governing public art exist? Do we think of public space like a common
space and share responsibilities? Let’s explore the challenges and opportunities that urban public art
offers to artists and communities alike. This analysis will be based on research into personal experiences
from the aforementioned projects, as well as insights from collaborators and responsible institutions
regarding the authorization, utilization and preservation of public space for artistic purposes and bring
some recommendations.
Keywords
Urban spaces, street art, artivism, vandalism
