As conflicts rise worldwide, over 2 billion people—one-quarter of humanity—live in conflict-affected areas. With peace increasingly under threat, the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations continue to play a critical role in promoting stability in some of the world’s most challenging environments. However, as peacekeeping faces unprecedented challenges, a new and powerful tool is being leveraged: artivism. By merging art and activism, artivism has emerged as an innovative way to inspire social change, raise awareness, and engage global communities in peacebuilding.
Artivism—where art meets activism—is the use of artistic expression to promote social or political causes. Whether through murals, street art, or public installations, artivists highlight critical issues such as human rights, justice, and peace. In the context of UN peacekeeping, artivism has become an essential part of global peace campaigns, turning abstract concepts like peace and security into tangible, relatable experiences. On 25 October, International Artist Day 2024 will provide an opportunity to honor those who use art as a tool for fighting for peace, further solidifying the connection between creativity and social change.
Artivism has transformed peacekeeping efforts, humanizing its work and reaching a broader audience. By tapping into the emotional power of art, peacekeeping operations engage communities and individuals in ways that traditional methods cannot. This form of activism allows UN Peacekeeping to connect with the public, creating solidarity and fostering participation in the global peace movement.
One notable example is the 2024 International Day of Peace, which showcased artivism at the heart of UN Peacekeeping’s activities. On this day, the UN Department of Peace Operations collaborated with renowned street artist Detour to create a live painting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event, curated by Street Art for Mankind, encouraged attendees to contribute their own messages of peace on a second canvas, fostering a collaborative and participatory experience. This combination of creativity and community engagement underscored the power of artivism to inspire collective action.
High-profile figures, including Danish actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, American actress Kat Graham, and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, joined the event, amplifying its message. UN officials, including Under-Secretaries-General Melissa Fleming and Rosemary DiCarlo, also attended, highlighting the importance of art as a tool for promoting global peace.
Beyond New York, peacekeeping missions around the world also embraced the power of artivism. In places like Kosovo (UNMIK), Cyprus (UNFICYP), the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (in French), local artists and peacekeepers collaborated to create murals addressing region-specific issues such as youth engagement, misinformation, and gender-based violence.
More importantly, the installations serve as powerful reminders of the global effort needed to build and sustain peace.
Artivism goes beyond simply creating aesthetically pleasing works of art. It aims to inspire action and mobilize communities around critical social and political issues. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Social Movement Studies found that artivism is more effective than traditional forms of activism in engaging audiences and raising awareness. Art-driven activism, according to the study, is more memorable and has a greater impact on people’s willingness to act on the issues it highlights.
For UN Peacekeeping, the success of artivism is already visible. The 2024 International Day of Peace promoted unity and collective action through creative expression.
Audrey and Thibault Decker, co-founders of Street Art for Mankind, emphasized the universal impact of art, noting, “Art is a universal language. It speaks to the heart and moves humankind in a way nobody can explain, but everybody can experience. Art is essential to the creation of a peaceful world.”
As conflicts become more complex, artivism offers an accessible and powerful means of fostering dialogue, raising awareness, and promoting peace. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating, “As world leaders [...] forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future, it’s important that the communities we serve remain at the center of all our efforts.”
Looking forward, UN Peacekeeping will continue to embrace innovative ways to engage communities, raise awareness, and build a more peaceful world. By involving local communities, artists, and peacekeepers in these creative efforts, the message of peace becomes more than just a goal—it becomes a shared vision that people across the globe can actively participate in.
In embracing artivism, UN Peacekeeping demonstrates that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of creativity, solidarity, and shared purpose. Through continued art-driven activism, peacekeeping will remain a vital force in the global movement toward a more peaceful and just future.