Abstract

FRANK, Ellen. Cities of Peace. Art in Conflict Matters. Pensam. palabra obra [online]. 2017, n.18, pp.42-51. ISSN 2011-804X.

Founded in 2005, the Cities of Peace Initiative, located in New York, has included young artist interns, scholars, and experts from more than 25 countries who, through collaborative work, have created nine Cities of Peace paintings that honor the history and culture of world cities that have suffered trauma. In 2015, Cities of Peace was invited to the 70th Commemoration of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau; also in 2015, Cities of Peace was invited by the former Prime Minister of Armenia, now Rector of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University (RAU), to create the 10th Cities of Peace painting in Yerevan on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide. This marks a substantial shift in program: working in the actual city with the citizens - students, artists, scholars, and museum directors - being honored. The rich success and vitality of the work in Auschwitz and in Yerevan attest to the power of art created in historic or current conflict zones. This paper explores the elements that contributed to the spirit and success of the Cities of Peace Initiative in these locations and establishes goals for its continuing growth, as an international peacebuilding modality, and in architecting a new cultural diplomacy through the transformational power of illuminated art.

Keywords : Cities; Artist; Art; Peacebuilding; Armenia; Auschwitz.

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