This study is concerned with analysing the application of cultural agency in two distinct cases. The case in Bogotá, Colombia, examines the promotion of civic awareness through the use of mime artists and how this led the city to embark on a major cultural experiment, under the instruction of the city mayor, Antanas Mockus. The case in Dublin, Ireland, examines RTE‟s documentary John Lonergan‟s Circus to highlight the value Art has, through the use of circus training, as an educational tool for students from socially disadvantaged areas in Dublin. The pedagogical theories of Paulo Freire and the literature written by Doris Sommer, based on cultural agency, inform the research. This research contributes to the literature by examining the value aesthetics and the Arts can have both socially and pedagogically, when used in innovative ways. This research follows a qualitative methodology; case study is referred to throughout, while interviewing allowed for analysis of data. The application of cultural agency was examined to highlight benefits of aesthetic approaches to educational endeavours. The findings show that specific themes are heavily linked to people‟s participation in cultural, social and educational activities. Overall, the findings indicate that when the Arts are used in innovative ways to promote civic engagement and social involvement, new understandings, outlooks and interpretations can flourish. It also highlights that when aesthetics are introduced to a learning environment, the attitude of those involved shifts significantly and people with a more vested interest are more receptive to learning and committed to development.