Artivismo y comunicación para el cambio social: movimiento transformador del muralismo en comunidades locales

It is necessary to explore forms of communication capable of promoting dialogue, reflection, and civic engagement. Artivism—the union of art and activism—is presented as a communicative practice that, through symbolic and shared languages, facilitates collective expression and raises awareness of social problems. This article analyzes the potential of artivism as a communication tool for social change, exploring its role in the educational and community spheres. It examines how these practices can generate identity, cohesion, and transformation in local environments and incorporates a qualitative study conducted in the rural community of Santibáñez el Bajo (Extremadura), based on the analysis of two murals, in-depth interviews, and a focus group. The results show that artivist muralism fosters participation, strengthens community identity, and contributes to social and emotional well-being. It concludes that artivism constitutes an effective communicative device for activating citizens and strengthening relational spaces in local contexts.