The community art movement has been a wonderful point of reconnection for the artist to the public. It has done so much to heal the great divorce caused by modernism, which sadly isolated the artist, trapped in a myth of individualism and self-seeking.

Artists began to find a role, a creative voice that engages in a social purpose, making a difference on our streets, looking for transformation in our schools, using the arts to find common ground, a place where healing and reconciliation has a chance.

Many of the stories, songs and symbols we have inherited in our communities are no longer strong enough to build a cohesive common citizenship. Artists need to be engaged in reinterpreting these great themes of corporate humanity, capturing histories, celebrating cultural diversity, and finding creative ways to find a new voice and visual identity.

Community art has more of a focus on the process, as opposed to public art which has an identifiable product, it has been called an art of the process, an act of creativity mainly for its participators which gives a positive sense of identity and cohesion.

Public art is more about the response of an artist, to a public space, hopefully made with an appropriate love of the person and their place, along with a respect of the medium and the idea being expressed through it.