Arts matter: Exploring an impact of arts on urban scenes in Poland

The paper aims at analysis of impact of art on social cohesion and urban development in Poland. It argues that arts and creativity favour community regeneration and empowerment, extend civic participation and political awarness, as well as help to counteract to social pathologies.

The paper employs the concept of urban scenes. Scene is a dynamic system of several components: (1) neighborhood (2) physical environment, (3) people (4) engaged in various activities, (5) representing differnet values ​​(Silver, Clark, Rothfield 2002). Arts and artists are considered crucial factors, which significantly affect character of urban scenes and determine its dynamic.

 The paper provides both quantitative data as well as some case studies of Polish urban scenes. It explores the ways in which the arts and artists impact on socio-cultural, political and economic dynamic of the scene.