Art affirms identity. Art gives voice. Art expresses difference, and it expresses consensus. Art brings up issues. It's a rather unencumbered opportunity or framework, offering opportunities to step outside of the normal way of doing or seeing things.
Art is a very reflective process.
It allows for collective and individual reflection on issues, on processes, on relationships. People get a real high from participating. Stepping outside of what they normally do, and becoming architects and planners of time and space. I think art is a very interesting way, though not necessarily the most effective way, to create change. But not because of anything intrinsic with the making.