About the Project:
This project explores how public art can support youth well-being in underserved urban
neighbourhoods by actively involving young people in shaping the spaces around them. While
public art is often used to improve neighbourhoods and build community connections, there is
limited understanding of how youth—especially those in marginalized contexts—experience and
benefit from these initiatives.

To address this gap, the project engages youth (ages 12–18) in co-creating public art, such as
murals, alongside community and Indigenous artists. Through a community-engaged,
participatory approach, youth are not just participants but co-creators of knowledge, sharing their lived experiences and ideas about belonging, identity, and well-being.

The research combines art-based workshops, visual ethnography (photography), and youth-led
reflections to understand how these creative processes influence youth well-being, sense of
ownership, and connection to their communities.