Dena L. Hawes

Why Art Matters: Artists and Peacebuilding Dena L. Hawes

This is a study about the role of art in community conflict transformation. There is insufficient information and empirical evidence about how performance art interventions can support existing forms of conflict resolution practice. This is a U. S. based study that explores and explains how performance art interventions can complement traditional and transformative interventions in the field of Conflict Resolution. Quantitative and qualitative research collected and analyzed for this study indicates and suggests how performance art, as a dialogically-based intervention, can influence an individual?s attitude, perception and or position about issues that are relevant to the field of Conflict Resolution. Suggestions are made about complementary interventions and the stage of conflict in which this unique type of intervention could be most useful.