Citizen Art: A Creative Mural Project for Community Building

Abstract

Community building is imperative after the COVID-19 pandemic and political division in the US. To identify a community project’s role in community building, we conducted a case study of an innovative mural painting project. Through 19 in-depth interviews with three groups of stakeholders (one artist, local borough officials, and residents), we explored their motivations and experiences of organizing and participating in the mural project. Specifically, we investigated how the mural project promotes community identity building and support networks among citizens. Furthermore, we proposed enhancing the community art project with technology-driven innovations, including making the events accessible to diverse participants, providing autonomy and guidance through a community app, and increasing artwork visibility. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights that could benefit the technology-backed design of local community projects aimed at community building and formation.