Bekir Şimşek, Faculty of Arts, Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, 20200604007@arucad.edu.tr
Abstract:
This research article focuses on the role of public art practices in the Cyprus peacebuilding process and their potential to promote community cohesion. Yuka Blend Festival, which showcases public artistic practices, is a cultural and arts festival held in Cyprus since 2016. Festivals have long been recognized as powerful tools for effecting social change and fostering community development. The main objective of this scientific study is to examine and critically evaluate the case study with its different temporal processes. These case studies focus on the potential of Yuka Blend festivals to promote peace in Cyprus communities and alleviate the effects of trauma. The research has been analyzed using the qualitative research method of ‘case study’ through the works of Studio 21 in the divided urban geography of North Cyprus Nicosia. These case studies focus on the potential of festivals to promote peace in communities and reduce the effects of trauma. It encourages community engagement through a variety of activities such as festivals, art shows, exhibitions, and workshops, while also playing an active role in achieving community cohesion by fostering dialogue and understanding among community members. Through individual awareness and consciousness, the perception of art and artists as ‘futile’ and ‘unnecessary effort’ has evolved into the notion that art and artists are essential for the vitality of both urban spaces and society at large. Public art activism, following practical implementation, has empowered individuals to embrace and identify with the places they inhabit. By finding resonance with their surroundings, individuals establish a sense of belonging. The inception of public art has forged new pathways within urban landscapes. Encounters with art in everyday life have become more frequent, offering alternatives to conventional routes and enriching daily experiences. Public art activism has breathed new life into the historical and cultural fabric of the Inner City. Individuals and communities have discovered avenues for self-realization, reinforcing their sense of identity and confidence, while simultaneously embracing a profound connection to their living environments.
Keywords: Public art, community art, art and participation, art and collaboration, festival practice.
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