Creative Cities: New forms of activation, distribution and restoration of mural art

The recent commercialization of public art in Europe has placed Street art in one of the most powerful artistic sectors of the creative industry. The contracting of street artist for wall paintings by the public, private and academic sectors, has promoted the artist itself, and has generated a public acceptance of these creative resources.

This institutionalization of the urban art movement in Europe has led to a museum recognition status of these spaces, which has resulted in the official declaration of outdoor museums. Or, it can be seen as the development of public art proposals that colour neighbourhoods, providing with uncountable, highly creative and innovative public spaces.

This transformation of the public space has generated deep changes in the communities at an identity, economic and political level. Sometimes those changes have been positive, favoring economic development through tourism, but in some other occasions had a negative impact, leading to identity problems associated with Gentrification processes.