Featured project
Tsipi Ben-Haim started CITYarts because she saw how often young people—especially teens—are left out of important conversations. She believed that if kids had the chance to express themselves through art, they could inspire real change in their communities. The idea was simple: when young people create, they don’t destroy—they build, they imagine, they connect.
CITYarts began as a way to give youth a voice and a role in shaping the world around them. What started as a vision has grown into a mission to get young people involved in meaningful, creative projects that bring people together. This is an interview with the founder to learn more about how CITYarts began, how it empowers young people through art, and the impact it continues to make across communities.
Please elaborate on the vision behind CITYarts and how the organization has evolved to meet its goals over 35 years.
The organization provides our youth with opportunities to impact their own lives and transform their communities. The artist became an educator for the participating youth, helping them to express their ideas creatively by painting, drawing, mosaic, and poetry. Youth work in collaboration with the artists. The artists aren’t telling the youth what to do. They ask the youth, “What would you like to paint?” The artists are helping the creative process so the youth feel a sense of ownership over the artwork they are creating on the walls, an artwork infused by their imagination.
In such a long and impactful journey, there must have been challenges. Could you share a moment of adversity that stands out—and how it shaped the organization?
One moment of adversity that left a lasting mark on our path came in the wake of 9/11. As I visited schools in the aftermath, I was met with a heartbreaking question from the students: “Why are they doing this to us?”
I paused and asked in return, “Who are ‘they’?”
That exchange became a turning point. It revealed not just confusion, but a deep need— for understanding, for connection, for empathy. It became clear that our youth needed a way to see beyond borders, to reach across oceans and cultures, and to truly know one another.
Out of that realization, CITYarts gave birth to its fifth program, Young Minds Build Bridges, and the Pieces for Peace project. What began as a response to tragedy grew into a global movement. To date, CITYarts Pieces for Peace has reached 124 countries, inviting young people everywhere to answer a simple yet profound question: “What does peace look like to me?”
Peace is a central theme in many CITYarts initiatives. How do you see art as a vehicle to achieve it, especially for youth?
In the CITYarts Pieces for Peace project, each student creates a 6×6-inch piece of art— small in size, but immense in heart. Through online and in-person exhibitions, these individual visions come together like a mosaic of hope. They’re not just drawings or paintings—they’re conversations across continents, bridges built from brushstrokes and imagination, showing us all that peace begins with understanding and active involvement—and that begins with connection.
You’ve worked with thousands of young people around the world. Is there a story of a particular youth or group that especially touched you or illustrates the mission in action?
There was a group of previously homeless youth who came to live in a building in the South Bronx, where they weren’t welcomed by the neighborhood. Then they created an amazing mural with their portraits that was seen by millions during a Super Bowl commercial. The next day, neighborhood kids came to escort these previously homeless kids to school. They became local celebrities. We also created savings accounts for them because we were able to get some funds from the advertising agency. That changed their lives.
The youth who worked on the Longfellow Avenue mural in NYC have told me how it impacted them. A previously homeless girl emailed me saying she missed the time spent on the project, remembering how the mural process “Stopped fights, brought the kids together,” and gave them a goal to reach together, crediting it to putting her on a path to success. Another kid said, “I did that, my mother will be proud of me,” while another spoke of the choice they made to do the mural instead of selling drugs on the corner of the street.
Can you give us a couple of examples that would give us a flavor of your collaboration with volunteers, communities, and sponsors?
Oh, there are so many beautiful stories—it’s hard to choose! We’ve worked across the five boroughs, around the globe, and now, with our CITYarts 50 States of Peace initiative, we’re creating bridges of understanding and beauty all across the nation. But let me paint you a picture of just a few moments that really stayed with me.
Take our partnership with the Allianz Foundation, which has been going strong for over 23 years. Their support has never just been about writing a check. They show up. They roll up their sleeves. And sometimes, I think what they love most is actually being out in the field, under the sun, side-by-side with young people, artists, and community members—restoring something together with their own hands.
I remember that one day, a group from Allianz came to help restore the Mosaic Rolling Bench—a long mosaic bench that had weathered many seasons. They had never worked with mosaic before, but by midday, they were cutting tiles, placing them with care, laughing, and learning. As the pieces started coming together, they could see the transformation—they were part of that transformation.
At the end of the day, one of them said, “Now we know exactly where our money goes—and how much more it gives back.” They felt it in their hands, in their hearts. And there was something magical about watching a teenager ask, “How do you get a job at Allianz? What do you need to study?” That spontaneous mentorship—that unexpected spark—that’s the real mosaic we’re building.
Once there was a group from Goldman Sachs that volunteered to paint a mural in Brooklyn. At lunchtime, we all sat down—youth, artists, volunteers—with slices of pizza and time to talk. I asked the volunteers to share a bit about who they were and what they did. One brave high school student raised their hand and asked, “Aren’t you the company everyone says stole people’s money?” You could’ve heard a pin drop.
But to their credit, the volunteers didn’t flinch. They took a deep breath and responded honestly: “Yes, mistakes were made. We’ve worked hard to fix them and ensure that they don’t happen again.” Then, one of them turned to the student and said, “Do you want to know how investing works?” The student pulled out a crumpled dollar bill from their pocket.
“Let’s start with this,” the volunteer said. “Let’s imagine how to make this grow.”
That moment became an impromptu lesson in financial literacy, responsibility, and dreaming big—with one small dollar as the starting point.
That’s the beauty of these encounters; they open doors you didn’t know existed. The day ended with people mentioning that it was a wonderful quality time they hadn’t spent for a long time.
And it’s not always about funding. Sometimes, the most meaningful support comes unexpectedly—a neighbor offering their garage to store paint, someone dropping off water bottles for our volunteers, or even helping clean brushes after a long day. These gestures may seem small, but they keep the whole project moving. They are the invisible threads that hold the fabric of our work together.
Ultimately, our murals are made of shared stories, spontaneous mentorships, small kindnesses, and the magic that happens when strangers come together to create something beautiful for everyone. One day, we hope to publish a book: CITYarts Urban Stories. We’re looking for a generous publisher.
Let’s look at a significant project in any geography you choose. How did it start, and how did it evolve?
Every CITYarts project is a one-of-a-kind creation, infused by the spirit of its surroundings. No two are alike. Each mural is shaped not just by the wall it lives on, but by the soul of the community surrounding it—their stories, struggles, and dreams. And at the center of it all? The youth. They are our artists, our thinkers, our storytellers. In workshops, they sit beside professional artists, exchanging ideas like mosaic pieces. Together, they envision and build a visual language that speaks to everyone who passes by.
One of the most powerful journeys I’ve had the privilege to lead was the creation of the CITYarts Peace Wall in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel. Like many meaningful things, it began with an unexpected meeting of minds. I was introduced to Ron Pundak, one of the visionaries behind the Oslo Peace Accord, by Amir Dossal, the trailblazing founder of the UN Partnerships Office. Ron—an Israeli Jew who never gave up on the possibility of peace—and Amir—a Muslim from Pakistan who built bridges where others saw chasms. These two men from opposing corners of the world found common ground, and in that moment, they embraced my mission. Amir turned to Ron and said, “This is Tsipi. She builds peace walls around the world. She’s one of your people.”
Ron’s eyes lit up. “Is there a wall in Israel?” he asked.
“Not yet,” I said, smiling. “But I hope we can create one.”
And from that moment, the conversation never stopped.
The vision came to life quickly: a collaborative mural that would bring together six schools—Jewish, Arab, and Christian. Teenagers from different communities, cultures, and languages stood shoulder to shoulder, not divided by differences but united by hope. They began by creating individual CITYarts Pieces for Peace at the Peres Center, each one a personal wish for peace. Then, under the guidance of two extraordinary artists—Salma, an Arab young woman, and Yoav, a Jewish Israeli—they transformed those visions into a vibrant mural on Kedem Street, in a neighborhood where Jews and Arabs live side by side.
And what they created together with our diverse youth was more than art. It was a living testimony. As they painted, the teens would say: “Look at us. We’re from different worlds, yet here we are—laughing, learning, creating… together.” It was a mural born of empathy, trust, and shared purpose. It stood as a celebration of coexistence in a region that was too often told in stories of separation. Today, visitors still come—tourists, locals, dreamers—pausing to take in its colors, message, and warmth. I still get messages from strangers who found it by chance and walked away changed.
Years passed. Sun and rain weathered the wall, and we restored it because symbols like this must endure. Something beautiful happened: those teenagers, now grown, returned with their children. They stood in front of the mural and said, “We made this. We made this together.” In a place where division often steals the headlines, this wall whispers a different truth: Peace is not a dream. Peace is a process, a practice, a promise.
Looking ahead, what are your dreams for the next decade of CITYarts? Are there new directions or projects you’re excited to explore?
Today, our mission takes on greater urgency as we call on schools, organizations, and communities across the nation to help us bring to life the CITYarts 50 States of Peace initiative—a creative movement uniting Americans through the imagination and dreams of our youth. Through dedicated educators, the project invites students, schools, and youth groups to participate in a 45—to 60-minute CITYarts Pieces for Peace art workshop led by a teacher. In this workshop, students explore the profound question: “What does peace look like to me?”
At the end of the workshop, each student creates a 6×6-inch artwork sharing their vision for peace. We have run workshops in 24 states so far. These artworks will join a growing Online Exhibition on the CITYarts website, where students will see their collective impact. Exceptional pieces will travel the country as part of our National Traveling Exhibition, already showcased in five states! Schools and organizations that are interested can create a peace mural wall in their city based on the images students create in workshops. Five CITYarts Peace Walls have been created so far across the US.
We plan to create a CITYarts Peace Wall in Washington, DC, a powerful culmination uniting the visual voices of youth from all 50 states. The wall will be a checkboard of 10×10″ tiles alternating students’ CITYarts Pieces for Peace artworks with quotes about peace from world leaders. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, we plan to have 250 youth artworks with each of the 50 states represented. This wall will be more than a mural—it will be a living symbol of connection, creativity, and commitment to peace, uniting the voices of tomorrow with the wisdom of yesterday.
On the Global stage, we hope to reach all 193 countries under the UN flag. We’re currently in 125 countries. When that happens, we’ll create a culminating Peace Wall on a wall outside of Vatican City to see and feel forever the visions and wishes of the next generation of leaders. We hope that the Pope will come out to bless the participants and the CITYarts global Peace wall.
In the future, we hope to use innovative technologies to create a Virtual CITYarts Peace Museum that everyone can see from everywhere! This is what I mean by bringing our Youth voices to the table and taking their visions and ideas seriously!
Make your tax-deductible donation today and help Art Spiel continue to thrive. DONATE
How can an artist get involved?
Our website has a form where artists can express interest in working with us. When a project seems relevant to the artist’s interest and experience, we will reach out and invite them to interview for the role. Here is some info.
About CITYarts: CITYarts engages youth with professional artists in creating public art, including murals and mosaics. Through this creative process, CITYarts empowers, educates, and connects youth and children locally and around the world to become active participants in realizing their potential and transforming communities. The goal at CITYarts is to hear the voices of our children and youth. We can ignite their curiosities and imaginations to keep peace alive in their lives and for all of us around the world. We want to build bridges of cultural understanding by bringing youth from around the globe into contact and dialogue with each other and with society as a whole through the creation of artwork with youth from around the world. With every CITYarts project, we are planting the seeds for much-needed creative and caring young leadership. @CITYartsInc
Related articles:
https://artspiel.org/duae-lingua-at-the-romanian-cultural-institute/
https://artspiel.org/peepshow-space-redux-a-new-chapter-in-greenpoints-art-scene/
https://artspiel.org/t-d-motley-the-art-of-farming/
https://artspiel.org/a-glimpse-into-elza-kayal-gallery-with-eniko-imre/
https://artspiel.org/donna-conklin-king-fifty-eight-feet-down-the-ocean/
https://artspiel.org/divisions-to-be-human-is-to-act-humanely/