Artist Opportunities

Request for Proposals: Mental Health Effects of Racism 

NEW Deadline: Friday, June 4, 2021

Mural Arts Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), in collaboration as the Porch Light program, are seeking to partner Black artists with Black mental health clinicians to engage with communities throughout Philadelphia and create a public artwork on the topic of mental health and racism.

Studies have shown far-reaching psychological effects of experiencing racism and anti-Blackness. These effects include increased stress, anxiety and depression, which can lead to increased susceptibility to chronic illnesses as well as the potential for other consequences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. These effects have the potential to be passed down from generation to generation.

This project would look to highlight not only these mental health impacts of racism but also the sources of strength that come from communities and individuals.

This project has two main components: The artist-mental health clinician team will be expected to design and lead public conversations and art activities, which will culminate in a work of permanent or temporary public art (a public-facing piece that is generated through public engagement). Examples have included, but are not limited to, murals, film festivals, and installations. The clinician(s) will provide context on mental health and help train the artists on creating a safe environment to hold these conversations. The project will also include a symposium after unveiling of the public art to disseminate learning from the process.

Our goal is for the artist and clinician team to work collaboratively to shape the project, including the title, the avenues for engagement and the public artwork. Porch Light will provide a framework, logistical support and funding for this project, and both Porch Light and DBHIDS will provide behavioral health resources and support.

We are seeking individual artists and clinicians or artist-clinician teams to apply. Artists may specialize in any form of art-making, such as muralism, film, photography, creative storytelling or poetry, that is appropriate for presentation in public space. Mental health clinicians must have, at minimum, masters level training in social work, psychology, psychiatry or a related field.

Applications are due by email to nadia.malik@muralarts.org by 5 pm on Friday, May 28, 2021.

The ARTZ In the Neighborhood Mural Project 

A mural project to engage those living with dementia in Philadelphia with enhanced quality of life experiences through art

Beginning Spring 2021

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Deadline: 5 pm EDT, June 14th, 2021
Please email cathy.harris@muralarts.org with any questions or comments.
No phone calls, please.

1. Introduction
Theme: Dementia in Communities of People of Color
Mural Arts Philadelphia is proud to partner with ARTZ Philadelphia and Esperanza Health Center on a major project to provide quality of life programming and art opportunities to people living with dementia. This project seeks to engage individuals in workshops to provide opportunities for creative expression, dignity preservation and connection with others in an effort to honor the agency and self advocacy of community members living with memory loss. Participants will be encouraged to find ways to “make their mark” and demonstrate that dementia does not dismantle humanity. Only stigmas and other human beings can do that.

The project will especially focus on how the African-American and Hispanic communities are particularly affected by dementia. Data suggest that the prevalence of dementia in these communities is considerably higher that in non-Hispanic white communities. Despite this disparity, these groups often receive delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment following diagnosis. This is compounded by cultural factors, such as lack of access to proper care; the perception of what is normal aging and what is not;, a lack of trust between doctors practicing traditional medicine and people of color; and the stigmas associated with dementia.

Virtual Community Artist Application  

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until further notice.

Porch Light is a partnership between Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. At our storefront at 2774 Kensington Avenue (“The Kensington Storefront”), Porch Light is working with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation and Prevention Point to make a community space where neighbors can create art and connect with resources to live a better, healthier life.

Kensington Storefront Virtual Community Artists (VCAs) will create bold new structures for engaging the Kensington community virtually (or through safely-conducted outdoor programming), using the arts. During this intense time, trauma awareness and collective meaning-making is more important than ever. VCAs will provide programs (offered to all community members free of charge) where they will be able to reflect on their experiences, build relationships with their neighbors, and learn a new modality in the arts. We are especially interested in public engagement that uses the arts to help participants reacclimate to busy schedules after the stay-at-home order, and to redefine “normal” life. Out of this public engagement, VCAs will create a work of public art in Kensington based on their community engagement, with the aim of improving and beautifying the neighborhood. All modalities welcome: music, theater, dance, photography, mixed mediums, storytelling, etc.

Interested in joining our staff? Check our staff openings here.