Perceiving Urban Art and Neighbourhood Change

A Metropolitan Survey and Two Case Studies from Milan

Abstract

Urban art is frequently presented as a means of improving neighbourhoods, strengthening local identity and activating community participation. Yet the social effects attributed to murals and related practices are often inferred from project narratives rather than examined through the perceptions of residents and practitioners. This article investigates how people living in Milan and its metropolitan area, together with stakeholders working in urban art, understand the contribution of urban art to neighbourhood change. It combines an exploratory online survey of 168 respondents, six qualitative interviews with artists, cultural organisers and foundation representatives, and a contextual comparison of two Milanese projects: CORBA - Urban Transformation in Villaggio dei Fiori and Manifestival in Gallaratese. Survey results show broad but conditional support. Most respondents considered urban art capable of transforming neighbourhoods, while acceptance depended strongly on artistic quality, contextual fit and the involvement of local communities. Perceived transformative potential was positively associated with the perceived usefulness of a dedicated urban-art space (Spearman's rho = .464, p < .001), and respondents already active in neighbourhood life were more likely to believe that urban art strengthens community bonds. Qualitative responses and interviews nevertheless distinguished aesthetic improvement from structural regeneration: murals could create identity, landmarks, encounters and interpretive opportunities, but could not substitute for housing maintenance, services or inclusive governance. The two cases further demonstrate that participation is not a single condition but a spectrum ranging from celebratory involvement to structured listening, workshops and co-produced themes. The article argues that urban art contributes to neighbourhood change most credibly when treated as a situated communicative process rather than a self-sufficient physical intervention.