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More than a Wall
More than a Wall
Content
Is graffiti always vandalism?
What if a painting on a wall could make people stop, smile, think, or even start a conversation?
Banksy, Love is in the Air. Source: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/contemporary-art-evening-auction/love-is-in-the-air-2?locale=en
Every day we walk past walls, buildings and empty spaces without noticing them. But artists see something different—they see stories waiting to be told.
Street art is much more than colourful murals or graffiti. It can celebrate local history, bring neighbours together, brighten forgotten places and inspire people to see their surroundings differently.
In this interactive playlist you'll discover how artists transform ordinary spaces into meaningful places through videos, creative challenges, games and real-world activities.
You'll learn how to:
- discover different forms of street art
- understand the message behind murals
- observe your surroundings with fresh eyes
- create your own visual story
- explore how art can connect people and communities
By the end of this playlist, you won't just look at walls—you'll look at your whole neighbourhood differently.
This activity was inspired by the PASS – Pass the Street (Art), Shake the Hand, which explores street art, creativity, community engagement, and the skills needed to develop and promote artistic projects. If you'd like to continue your learning, discover more topics including mural design, artistic techniques, community collaboration, digital storytelling, project management, and funding opportunities for street artists.
Explore the PASS project and Curriculum: https://pass-streetart.org/curriculum/2-you-as-a-street-artist-2/
Who created this resource?
The PASS – Pass the Street (Art), Shake the Hand project is a European cooperation initiative promoting social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and active citizenship through street art and participatory cultural activities. The project was implemented by Connect International (Belgium), TiPovej! Institute (Slovenia), Mladi zmaji Public Institute (Slovenia), Association BUM (Serbia), and Interkultura (North Macedonia), and was co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The playlist was created by TiPovej! Institute as a follow-up educational resource to extend the project's impact beyond the project activities. It provides freely accessible learning materials that showcase the PASS methodology, inspire reflection on the role of street art in building inclusive communities, and support youth workers, educators, artists, and community practitioners in adapting similar participatory approaches in their own work.
Activities to complete
Complete the following activities, earn badges and you will see your playlist progress updated
Content
What do you see when you walk through your neighbourhood? Most people notice buildings, streets, or signs. Street artists notice something different—they see stories waiting to be told.
Street art is much more than colourful murals or graffiti. It can express ideas, celebrate local identity, encourage conversations, and transform ordinary places into spaces that inspire people.
In this activity, you'll discover how artists communicate through public spaces, explore one of the world's most iconic street art projects, and learn how creativity can bring communities together.
By the end of this activity, you'll begin to see walls, streets, and public spaces in a completely different way.
Do You Recognize This Street Art?
Test your observation skills. Complete the puzzle here and discover one of the world's most famous street artworks.
- As you reveal the image, ask yourself:
- Have you seen this artwork before?
- Do you know who created it?
- What message do you think it is trying to communicate?
The completed puzzle reveals Obey Giant (1989), one of the world's most iconic street art campaigns, created by American artist Shepard Fairey.
What began as a simple sticker featuring professional wrestler André the Giant and the word "OBEY" gradually became a global street art movement. Rather than advertising a product, the artwork encourages people to question the images, symbols, and messages they encounter every day in public spaces.
Once you've completed the puzzle, share your thoughts under Task 1:
- Have you seen this artwork before?
- What do you think the word "OBEY" means in this context?
- Why do you think such a simple image became famous around the world?
What Is Street Art?
People often think street art is only graffiti—but is that really true? Street art comes in many different forms, including murals, stencils, stickers, mosaics, installations, posters, and community art projects. Some artworks make us smile, others encourage us to think, while some celebrate the identity and history of a place.
What do you think street art is?
Choose the answer that best matches your opinion and write it down under Task 2.
- Only graffiti.
- A way to make public spaces more interesting.
- A way to tell stories without words.
- A way for communities to express themselves.
- Music
- Juggling
- Live statues
- Theater performance
- All of the above.
There are no right or wrong answers. Throughout this playlist, you'll discover that street art can be many things—and often much more than people first imagine.
You don't believe street art is more than a mural? Watch this
A famous street performance that shows how music can transform an ordinary public space into a place where people stop, gather, and enjoy a shared experience.
What what do you think about juggling?
BAKTANA – LAZUZ Street Show is an award-winning street performance combining acrobatics, juggling, physical theatre, and comedy without using words.
What if creating a mural was only the beginning?
The PASS – Pass the Street (Art), Shake the Hand project brings together artists, young people, educators, and local communities to show how street art can inspire creativity, collaboration, and learning.
Across different countries, participants work together through murals, workshops, festivals, exhibitions, and community events, transforming public spaces into places where people can meet, exchange ideas, and express themselves creatively. The project also supports emerging street artists by helping them develop artistic, entrepreneurial, and community engagement skills.
PASS is more than a collection of murals. It also provides an online learning platform where anyone interested in street art can explore topics such as artistic techniques, community collaboration, digital storytelling, project management, and crowdfunding. The aim is to help creative ideas grow into projects that have a positive impact on local communities.
The project demonstrates that street art is not only about transforming walls—it is about creating opportunities for people to learn from one another, work together, and imagine new possibilities for the places they share.
Check below amazing Pass artworks that were developed within the project:
- City of Belonging is a collaborative mural created in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by artists Rosalie Buchtal, Klara Debeljak, and Fedja Šičarov. The artwork invites people to imagine a city where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to contribute. Through colourful imagery and community participation, the mural encourages people to share their stories, express their ideas, and see public spaces as places that can be shaped together through creativity and collaboration.
- The Bird of Inclusion is an interdisciplinary performance and live painting created in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by Filip Šoln, Nina Begović, and Ada Vera Petković. Combining movement, language, and visual art, the performance explores themes of hope, courage, and belonging. The bird, revealed at the end of the performance, symbolizes acceptance, connection, and the idea that strong communities are built when everyone feels welcomed and included.
- Migration is Natural is a mural created in Skopje, North Macedonia, by Sara Scopece, Camilo Pineda, and Uroš Janjić. Inspired by the movement of birds, sea turtles, and other living creatures, the artwork reminds us that movement is a natural part of life. Through colourful imagery, the mural celebrates diversity, connection, and the idea that different experiences and cultures can enrich the communities in which we live.
- Train of Hope is a mural created at Nikola Karev School in Skopje, North Macedonia, by Reza Sharifi, Irene Remón, and Petra Maravić. Using the image of a train, along with birds and paper airplanes, the artwork explores themes of hope, dreams, and new beginnings. By focusing on children and shared journeys, the mural encourages viewers to reflect on kindness, empathy, and the importance of creating welcoming communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
- In the Same Boat is a mural created at Dorćol Platz in Belgrade, Serbia, by Jovana Ruvidić, Dejvid Stoilkovski, and Veljko Petrović. Through the image of a cat and a mouse sailing together in one boat, the artwork encourages viewers to think about trust, cooperation, and overcoming differences. It reminds us that even people with different backgrounds or experiences can share a common journey and build stronger communities through understanding and collaboration.
- BG for All! is a mural created at Dorćol Platz in Belgrade, Serbia, by Florian Perl, Maja Stojanović, and Dimitrije Prodić. Featuring a pigeon and a rabbit holding a sign that reads "BG ZA SVE" (Belgrade for All), the artwork celebrates openness, cooperation, and shared belonging. It encourages viewers to see cities as places where people from different backgrounds can live, create, and grow together, building communities based on respect and inclusion.
Explore more details about each art work and their details in Street Gallery https://pass-streetart.org/street-gallery/.
Learn More
Discover the PASS project, explore its learning resources, and see how artists and communities are working together across Europe.
Case Study – Can a Portrait Change a Community?
What if the people in your neighbourhood became the artwork?
In 2011, French artist JR launched the Inside Out Project, a global participatory art initiative that invites communities to tell their stories through large-scale black-and-white portraits displayed in public spaces. Instead of creating art for people, the project encourages people to create art with one another.
Each project begins with a simple question: What message does your community want to share? Once participants agree on a common idea, their portraits are photographed, printed as large posters, and installed together on walls, streets, schools, parks, or other public places. The result is a powerful public artwork that reflects the people who created it.
Since its launch, the Inside Out Project has brought together more than 500,000 participants from over 150 countries, inspiring thousands of community-led art actions around the world. Every installation celebrates local voices while showing that creativity can connect people across cultures and communities.
The project reminds us that public art is not only about creating beautiful images—it is about giving people a voice, encouraging dialogue, and building stronger communities through shared experiences.
Think About It. Write your answers under Task 3:
- Why do you think the project uses portraits of ordinary people instead of famous celebrities?
- What message would you like your community to share with the world?
- Where in your town or school would you display a large community portrait installation?
- How could participating in a project like this help people feel more connected?
- If you created an Inside Out action, what title would you give it?
Learn More
Explore the official Inside Out Project website and discover community actions from around the world:
Get activity badge
Urban Observer Get this badge
Congratulations! You have successfully completed Hidden Stories and earned the Urban Explorer badge. By completing this activity, you discovered that street art is more than colourful walls or graffiti—it is a powerful way to share ideas, tell stories, and bring people together.
By earning this badge, you demonstrated your ability to:
- recognize different forms of street art and public art,
- observe and interpret visual messages in public spaces,
- explore how artists communicate through creativity,
- understand how community art projects can strengthen connections between people,
- reflect on the role of art in expressing local identity and shared experiences,
- and imagine how creativity can inspire positive change in your own community.
Through puzzles, real-world examples, and reflection activities, you learned that every wall can tell a story and that every community has a voice worth sharing.
As an Urban Explorer, you are now ready to look beyond the surface, discover the stories hidden in everyday places, and see your surroundings with curiosity, creativity, and a fresh perspective.
You have to finish all tasks to get the badge
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 1. Obey
- Have you seen this artwork before?
- What do you think the word "OBEY" means in this context?
- Why do you think such a simple image became famous around the world?
Share your answers below.
Task no.2
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 2. What Is Street Art?
Choose the answer that best matches your opinion and write down.
- Only graffiti.
- A way to make public spaces more interesting.
- A way to tell stories without words.
- A way for communities to express themselves.
- Music
- Juggling
- Live statues
- Theater performance
- All of the above.
Task no.3
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 3. Case Study – Can a Portrait Change a Community?
Write your answers.
- Why do you think the project uses portraits of ordinary people instead of famous celebrities?
- What message would you like your community to share with the world?
- Where in your town or school would you display a large community portrait installation?
- How could participating in a project like this help people feel more connected?
- If you created an Inside Out action, what title would you give it?
Activities: 3
Started: 1
Completed playlist: 0
Time to complete: 2 hours 15 minutes
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TiPovej!
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