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MAP's Brush with Royalty a Success
Prince Charles greets the model for "Reading a Journey." Photo by Jack Ramsdale
Prince Charles and Camilla contribute to a portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. at Heavenly Hall. Photo by Jack Ramsdale
On January 27, 2007, the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP) had the
great pleasure and honor in welcoming Their Royal Highnesses (TRH), Prince
Charles, The Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, to
an historic event at Heavenly Hall Full Gospel Church in the Mantua
neighborhood of Philadelphia. The event, which focused on exhibiting MAP's
accomplishments in urban regeneration and youth development, was a tremendous
success. In discovering Philadelphia's murals, TRH learned about more than just
our program, they experienced the spirit and resolve of Philadelphia's
citizens, the passions of our city's diverse neighborhoods, and the presiding
character that is destined to make Philadelphia America's Next Great City.
TRH's afternoon visit began at the intersection of 40th and Pennsgrove Streets,
at the mural entitled Reading: A Journey. After receiving a personal
viewing of the mural and interacting with the individuals who made the mural
possible, TRH then walked across the street to Heavenly Hall Church, where they
participated with MAP youth and muralists in an interactive painting activity
and spoke directly with community leaders and key participants involved in some
of MAP's most successful neighborhood transformation initiatives over the past
20 years.
This truly special event presented a unique opportunity for MAP to spread its
message about the transformative power of mural-making. In the weeks following
the event, MAP has been overwhelmed with letters, emails, and phone calls from
well-wishers, and mural fans old and new. This experience, and the interest
that it has surfaced, has raised MAP's profile locally, nationally, and
internationally, further reinforcing Philadelphia's reputation as the 'City of
Murals,' and MAP as a national-and now international-model for community
involvement, neighborhood transformation, and youth development.
Read more about TRH's visit with Mural Arts:
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