This project focused on two issues less explored in the existing literature on civilian self-protection: first, how forms of self-protection are related to urban conflict-related violations, with an emphasis on women and youth; and second, what place and meaning artistic and cultural practices developed by community-based organisations take in forms of self-protection. The research was carried out in the city of Medellin, Colombia, in collaboration with artistic and cultural organisations active in neighbourhoods affected by urban violence (central, north-eastern and north-western communities, as well as peri-urban districts). Exploring these questions allowed us to re-dimension the concept of civilian self-protection and its strategic possibilities for a better living of urban communities.
RESEARCH TEAM
- Beatriz Arias López, Universidad de Antioquia (principal investigator)
- Adriana Diosa, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares
- Giovanni Pérez Cárdenas, Cultural corporation for development Arlequín y los Juglares
- Katherne Urrea Velásquez, Robledo Venga Parchemos
- Jeimy Catalina Guerra Correa, Corporación Consonantes
PROJECT OUTPUTS
Recording of La Fiesta theatre production, performed at Pablo Tobón Uribe Theatre of Medellín on 17 May 2023 (more information in English and Spanish). La Fiesta is written by Óscar Manuel Zuluaga and performed by Harlequin and the Jugglers.
Arte Que Protege music video by Gio Monteadentro.
Art: A social outburst song and video, introducing the context of the research project. For translation of the video, please choose first Spanish subtitles (click on the cog symbol) and then your language by clicking on auto-translate.
Article in Estudios Políticos
Alfaya Cardona, Laura, Sandra Benítez Diosa, Laura Jiménez Ospina, Freddy Giovanni Pérez Cárdenas, ‘Vulneraciones y riesgos de mujeres, niños, niñas y jóvenes involucrados con las actividades de organizaciones de base artístico-culturales en el contexto del conflicto urbano en Medellín, 2022′ [Infringements and Risks of Women, Children and Youth Involved with Activities of Grassroots Artistic-Cultural Organization in the Context of Urban Conflict in Medellin, 2022], Estudios Políticos (Universidad de Antioquia), 70, pp. 108-132.
Article in Humanitarian Exchange
Arias López, Beatriz E., Laura Jiménez Ospina, Freddy Peréz Cardenas G., and Berit Bliesemann de Guevara, ‘Art That Protects’, Humanitarian Exchange, 82.12 (2023).
FIND OUT MORE
El Colombiano, “En Medellín el arte es barco y faro al mismo tiempo” (“In Medellín art is both ship and lighthouse”)
https://www.elcolombiano.com/cultura/arte-urbano-como-herramienta-de-autoproteccion-en-medellin-JG21638155
“The Network was invited to La Fiesta”.
Spanish: https://creating-safer-space.com/la-red-estuvo-invitada-a-la-fiesta/
English: https://creating-safer-space.com/the-network-was-invited-to-la-fiesta/
UdeA Noticias, “Cuatro murales, huellas del arte que protege en Medellín” (“Four murals, traces of the art that protects in Medellín”)
https://bit.ly/ArProUdeA
Tele Medellín Note: Art transforms and protects
https://a.hallon.es/view_pdf.php?sid=18202&cid=954690271
Medellín DNA: Behind the traces of art that protect lives in Medellín
https://p.hallon.es/view_pdf.php?sid=18202&cid=954713518
PHASE II
This project has led to a second continuation phase. Read more about Phase II.
MAP OF THE RESEARCH AREA
