"I needed direction in my life, and I found it with Mural Arts."
Eric, 20 years old
Former Graffiti Writer
Mural Arts Program Art Education Student

When young people make a mural, they interact with fellow students, instructors, muralists, and the community at-large. Each interaction presents a different set of challenges and opportunities, requiring youth to develop a wide range of skills from traditional drawing and color mixing to teamwork and leadership.

That's why nearly 3,000 youth—ages 10 through 21—participate in MAP's art education programs and workshops every year!

Murals are excellent catalysts for youth development. Murals challenge and affirm on a variety of levels, and provide a unique opportunity for young people to actively participate in a process that enhances their community. In addition, the impact of healthy relationships with adult role models, both in the arts and in the community, gives young people great pride in their own capabilities as artists and activists. Special events such as art exhibitions and educational trips (throughout Philadelphia and beyond) ensure that MAP's art education students have plenty of fun while learning.

MAP encourages long-term involvement by offering several programs that build on each other to provide increasingly challenging and exciting responsibilities.

All programs and workshops are free of charge! Sign up today!

For more information about MAP's art education program, contact Maneesha Sane by phone at 215.685.0726, or email at maneesha.sane@muralarts.org.

The Programs

BIG PICTURE
Big Picture is a yearlong mural-training opportunity for youth between the ages of 10 and 18. Big Picture's lessons intend to help youth participants become creative thinkers, while also providing them with skills in problem solving and teamwork. Students work extensively on group projects with other students, artists, the community, and other facets of MAP. Experienced artists and educators teach lessons about Philadelphia murals. Each summer, all Big Picture sites have the opportunity to work with a professional muralist on a large-scale mural.

Enrollment Information		Contact Information
Big Picture has open enrollment year round. Download application [119K PDF] and send to: City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Attn: Big Picture, Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center at the Thomas Eakins House, 1727-29 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 or fax to Attn: Big Picture, 215.685.0757		For more information about Big Picture contact: Lisa Murch, Big Picture Program Coordinator, by phone at 215.685.0751, or email at lisa.murch@muralarts.org.

Term		Sessions		Schedule		Curriculum/Special Events
Fall		10 weeks		3 days/week 3:30-6:30pm		Mural Dedications End of Session Open House Student Art Exhibit
Winter		10 weeks		3 days/week 3:30-6:30pm		Teamwork Training End of Session Open House Local Field Trip
Spring		10 weeks		3 days/week 3:30-6:30pm		End of Session Open House
Summer		6 weeks		5 days/week 4 hours/day		Weekly Field Trips End of Session Open House

Site Locations

MURAL CORPS
Mural Corps is an arts education program designed to engage youth between the ages of 14 and 21 in the mural-making process. It is an innovative youth-development program designed to increase educational opportunities and provide critical job readiness skills, while cultivating virtuosity in the fine arts and youth leadership and ownership of the program. Students participate in the Mural Corps after extended exposure to prior arts education programs (i.e. MAP's Big Picture, AVRP, and Artworks programs) or after demonstrating talent and commitment in their portfolio.

In addition to the traditional Mural Corps sites, classes are offered at E3 Power Centers throughout the city. E3 Power Centers offer programs for young people coming out of detention centers, long-term placement, or having previously dropped out of school. The centers are designed to provide opportunities for young people to get their high school diploma, meet with social workers, obtain job skills, and take part in a variety of programs that will help them rejoin society as productive citizens. Mural Corps has partnered with the centers in order to offer a curriculum of mural making as a vehicle to support youth in achieving these goals

Enrollment Information		Contact Information
Enrollment is open all year with an increase of openings in the fall and summer. Download application [101K PDF] and send to: City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Attn: Mural Corps., Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center at the Thomas Eakins House, 1727-29 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia PA 19130 or fax to Attn: Mural Corps, 215.685.0757		For more information about Mural Corps contact: Noni Clemens, Mural Corps Administrative Assistant, by phone at 215.685.0753, or email at noni.clemens@muralarts.org.

Term		Sessions		Schedule		Curriculum/Special Events
Fall		10-11 weeks		2 days/week 3:30-6:30pm		Throughout the year, youth create a portfolio piece, paint small indoor murals, and are involved in an ambitious public art project.
Winter		10-11 weeks		2 days/week 3:30-6:30pm
Spring		10-11 weeks		2 days/week 3:30-6:30pm		Youth participate in a student art exhibit in the fall, mural dedications, and field trips to college campuses, galleries, and museums during the year.
Summer		6 weeks		5 days/week 4 hours/day

Site Locations

ArtWorks! & Adolescent Violence Reduction Partnership (AVRP)
ArtWorks! and AVRP provide at-risk youth ages 10-18 who have been placed in Department of Human Services (DHS) Adolescent Violence Reduction Partnership (AVRP) center-based agencies the opportunity to complete required community service hours through participation in individual and collaborative experiences in art- and mural-making and work with professional muralists on major new works of public art. Workshops conducted by experienced teaching artists are designed to emphasize the development of creative and critical thinking and communication skills, encourage self-expression, build self-esteem, and nurture leadership potential.

ArtWorks! mural projects draw inspiration from current issues and events that have an impact on the lives of the young people served by the program. ArtWorks! also strives to partner on its projects with contemporary artists whose own work gives voice to the disenfranchised and explores new ways to address a wide variety of social concerns.

AVRP mural projects most often serve as a vehicle to engage young people in the process of social change. Recent AVRP mural projects have focused on efforts to bring Philadelphia police officers and young people together to participate in dialogue workshops aimed at dispelling stereotypes, improve communications, and collaborate on the creation of community-based works of public art.

ArtWorks! and AVRP after-school workshops are currently offered twice a week at 26 sites throughout Philadelphia. Each workshop can accommodate up to 20 youth at a time.

Enrollment Information		Contact Information
The provider of the hosting site enrolls students.		For more information about ArtWorks! sites contact: Sherman Fleming, ArtWorks! Coordinator, by phone at 215.685.0752, or email at sherman.fleming@muralarts.org. For AVRP sites contact Anne Harrison, AVRP Program Coordinator, by phone at 215.685.0725, or e-mail at anne.harrison@muralarts.org.

Term		Sessions		Schedule
Fall Winter Spring		10 weeks 10 weeks 10 weeks		2 days/week 3 hours/day
Summer		6 weeks		2 days/week 3 hours/day

Site Locations

ARTWORKS!

Please send letter of intent, resume, and references to: Mural Arts Art Ed Dept Attn: Volunteer Search, 1729 Mount Vernon Street Philadelphia PA 19130

Note: All volunteers and interns who will be working with students will be expected to have a PA Child Abuse Clearance Form and PA Criminal Background Check within 30 days of starting.

Becoming an Art Instructor:
Current job listings are posted on MAP's employment page.

If interested in a posted position send cover letter, resume, artwork samples to:

Mural Arts Art Ed Dept
Attn: Instructor Search
1729 Mount Vernon Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

No phone calls please.

Note: All instructors will be expected to have a PA Child Abuse Clearance Form and PA Criminal Background Check within 30 days of starting.

Becoming a Mural Arts Education Program Site:
If your program is interested in hosting an Art Education Program please download site application and send to:

Mural Arts Art Ed Dept
Attn: Site Search
1729 Mount Vernon Street
Philadelphia PA 19130

Download "New Site Application" [211K PDF]

For more information contact Maneesha Sane by phone at 215.685.0726, or email at maneesha.sane@muralarts.org.