We often think of art as a luxury; something to admire on a museum wall or enjoy at a concert after work. Beautiful and even moving, but optional. However, psychologists today are making the case that artivism can be an essential tool for healing, resistance, and social transformation.

Artivism is the blending of art and activism to promote social justice, collective healing, and individual empowerment (e.g., Shapiro, 2020). It draws on theory and research about how creativity and expression can shift cognition, emotions, and behavior in ways that support change and wellness. Often done as a collaborative effort, artivist work can involve psychological scientists, mental health professionals, artists, community members, NGOs, activists, and more.

Psychologists studying and using artivism have documented how murals, spoken word, and participatory theater can be used to challenge racism, sexism, and colonial legacies, while simultaneously improving outcomes like hope, agency, and solidarity.

For example, a study by Kapitan and colleagues (2011) used art therapy in Nicaragua as part of a community-driven research project. The project partnered with a local NGO, which organized retreats where community members used art, dance, and storytelling to reflect on their lives. Instead of outside experts leading, participants themselves shaped the inquiry as co-researchers, using their own cultural symbols (like volcanoes, masks, and hats) to explore trauma, inequality, and hopes........

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