Michael Mackenzie and Thom Louis talk charity in light of recent public displays.

Both our culture editors last week were stopped by Know Your Mouth to have our photos taken to raise awareness for mouth cancer. If you were walking past St Andrew Square last week you'll have seen our gawping faces projected onto adjacent buildings. Passers-by will have gone home to investigate why their favourite editors of The Student were intruding on their daily routine. The curiosity hopefully encouraged people to regularly check their mouths for “lumps, bumps, red or white patches, sores or ulcers,” as the website says, catching mouth cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.

You'll also have probably noticed the knitted red ribbons tied round the fence surrounding George Square gardens signalling World AIDS Day on December 1. Showing support for World AIDS Day is showing support for those living with HIV, commemorating those who have died from the virus, but also crucially bringing awareness to the ways transmission can be avoided. As it is such an important cause, it is promising to see the red ribbon displayed so prominently in the middle of the University's central campus.

Both events are examples of art on display in public spaces for the purposes of charitable causes. They work effectively because, unlike art that brings awareness to important issues in our society in galleries, these pieces interrupt your everyday life forcing you to consider what's on display. You're not actively going somewhere to engage with art, you're made aware of mouth cancer or HIV without consent.

We think this is a better way of bringing important causes to the front of our minds than information on websites or emails because the issue is felt more pressingly if it interrupts the everyday: living with HIV or mouth cancer is a daily reality for many people – it's only logical to have these artistic displays intrude upon our walks to classes.

Theatre is different. Although often motivated politically, it is not usually put on for charity. It is, however, difficult to get away from issues and every other theatre production has a motivated axe to grind. A particularly good public example was last year's Theatre Uncut. The project by various theatre groups across the country attempted to increase awareness of the effect of government cuts on arts programmes through new writing and performance. The discussion and wide range of pieces brought up an interesting and diverse set of issues. The campaign has continued throughout this year, alongside the continuing protests againsts cuts.

In the public eye or in a specified location, culture is used to effective charitable ends. Art and theatre can do more than entertain or aesthetically please; they can educate, challenge issues and change opinions.