Training & Development
Join other artists, organizers, and community members in expanding your skills, network, and experience in community engaged public art practices.
Annual Programs
Mural Arts Philadelphia Summer Internship Program
open to recent graduates worldwide
July 7th – August 15th 2025
Hands-on Experience in Philadelphia
Minimum age requirement:
18 years and older
DEADLINES
Due April 25th, 2025
Partner Paint day at Philabundance, August 9, 2023. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Participants will have the opportunity to build a mural alongside a professional muralist team. This learning experience is open to artists working towards a journey in public art and social practice as a way to gain solid mural-making and community engagement skills. Become part of the team and contribute to Philadelphia’s renaissance!
Eligibility
Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists
open to artists living in Philadelphia
Ongoing
Every Spring
Offering Support & Capacity Building
DEADLINES
Next Opening in Winter of 2026
Fellowship for Black Artist mixer at the Fleisher Art Memorial, April 30, 2022. Photo by Akeil Robertson.
This fellowship program focuses on building a pipeline for the flourishing careers of Philadelphia-based African American or Black identifying visual artists through financial support, mentorship, professional development, and unique creative connections. Each year, 15 fellows are chosen to participate in this exclusive year-long program that culminates in an annual group exhibition at a prominent gallery space. The fellowship provides:
Eligibility
- Learn about the selection committee and past fellows here
Philadelphia Muralist Training Program
Open to Philadelphia Regional Artists
January through March
In-person Training and Experiences
Synchronous Learning in Online Classroom
DEADLINES
Stay tuned for Fall 2025
What I loved most about the Muralist Training Program was learning different ways to engage the community while co-creating with them to bring visibility to issues I'm passionate about, like women's mental health and making an impact through art.
Chanelle RenÉ, MTP 2023 Participant
Photo by Steve Weinik
The training equips artists with the tools to lead their own projects and a comprehensive understanding of the community mural-making process– from community engagement strategies to community design approaches, project management checklists and templates, and production guidelines.
Eligibility:
Artists within the Greater Philadelphia Region. A fee to participate is required upon acceptance into the program.
This is a short, thorough, and sweet spot to learn from practitioners who know a lot.
Lili Razi, MTP 2023 Participant
The Muralist Training Program connects all the dots, puts faces to names with resourceful information.
Khalid Dennis, MTP 2023 Participant
Community-Catalyst Incubator
open to artists worldwide
Seasonly Throughout the Year
Hands-on experiences and site visits
Follow up Consulting & Support
DEADLINES
Please check back for new incubators.
Join Philadelphia’s leading muralists and community arts leaders for a unique hybrid learning experience. This training is intended for artists with painting experience or cultural workers who are interested in expanding their socially engaged artistic practice to include mural-making, and for muralists seeking to root community-centered approaches into all aspects of their work.
Led by a team of professional artists and arts administrators providing Mural Arts Philadelphia’s 40+ years of experience in project planning, community engagement strategy, and mural-making techniques, this cohort-centered experience provides 4 full days of in-person learning and an artist networking opportunity in Philadelphia in addition to a series of virtual instruction sessions.
workshops
Artist to Artist: Community Engagement in Public Art
Date:
Where:
Mural Arts Philadelphia
1727 Mt Vernon Street
Philadelphia PA 19130
Capacity:
Maximum of 50 participants
Join us at Mural Arts Philadelphia on April 24th for an interactive workshop exploring how artists can engage and impact their communities through public art. This workshop is a collaboration between the Mural Arts Institute and Creative Philadelphia’s Public Art, How to Start professional development series, which is designed to demystify the public art process for local and emerging artists. In this workshop, you will hear directly from practicing artists who have successfully engaged diverse stakeholders, fostered dialogue, and incorporated community input into public art projects. Artist presentations will be followed by a Q & A and break out discussions to help you develop and refine your own approaches to creating collaborative art with community.
Spring Artist Forum
Date:
Tuesday, March 25 2025 · 5:30 - 7:30pm
Where:
Triple Bottom Brewing
915 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia PA 19123
Capacity:
Maximum of 100 participants
Join us for the Spring Artist Forum! This biannual event, organized by the Mural Arts Institute (MAI), invites local muralists and public artists to come together for professional networking, learning, listening, and sharing. Our focus this forum is on how to build strong applications when submitting to public arts opportunities. Hear from Mural Arts Philadelphia staff along with special guests from Association for Public Art and Creative Philadelphia about their perspectives on how artists can craft successful proposals and learn about upcoming open artist calls from all 3 organizations going on this Spring! Space is limited, register today!
Approaches to Community Engagement for Artists
Date:
Wednesday, January 29 · 5:30 - 8pm
Where:
Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Room 108
Capacity:
Maximum of 50 participants
Join us for a dynamic workshop exploring how artists can connect with and impact their communities through public art.
This workshop is a collaboration between the Mural Arts Institute and Creative Philadelphia’s Public Art, How to Start professional development series for artists.
Hear about the integral role of community engagement in public art projects commissioned by Creative Philadelphia and Mural Arts Philadelphia and learn from seasoned arts administrators who have supported artists to successfully engage with diverse audiences through their work. Develop your own innovative approaches to community engagement in breakout groups, share your own experiences, and network with like-minded creatives.
Mural Cloth Workshop
Date:
To Be Announced
Where:
1727-29 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Capacity:
Maximum of 15 partipants
Learn about the Mural Cloth Method of mural production and installation. This hands on workshop will give artists a crash course in site selection, wall preparation, artwork production using mural cloth, and installation of mural cloth for a public artwork. Registration is limited for this workshops which is offered seasonally throughout the year.
Squarespace Website for Creatives
Date:
September 26, 2024 6:00 PM
Where:
Via Zoom
Capacity:
Maximum of 25 participants
Squarespace is not just a useful platform for businesses, but also for creative professionals. In this workshop, Corinne Dodenhoff will dive into the nitty-gritty details of Squarespace web design. Using the Squarespace 7.1 Fluid Builder Engine, participants will be able to craft their own websites that showcases both their work and their creative voice.
Participants will walk through the builder engine and its functionality while discussing tips and best practices for design. Topics will also include building a website from scratch, implementing brand identity, and how to choose what to feature on a portfolio website.
The objective is for students to feel engaged and excited by the process of building their website using Squarespace’s functionality and easy-to-use interface.
Peer Learning
Do you have skills to share?
Connect with us below
We believe in the power of shared experiences between colleagues and creatives who have unique skills and techniques to offer.
Please reach out if you have some experience in knowledge sharing with peers, and we'd be happy to explore the opportunity.
Digital Tools for Muralists
Date:
September 12, 2024 6:00 PM
Where:
Via Zoom
Capacity:
Maximum of 25 participants
Expand your mural making "toolbox" with muralist Eric Okdeh, drawing from his 25 years of experience in public art making.
Session Highlights:
1. Assembling a digital design using Photoshop and Procreate basics
2. Measuring and assessing wall/site
3. Scaling your design for grid or projection techniques
4. Using layers, filters, and tools for production use
By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to take your mural designs from concept to reality, using industry-standard software and techniques.
Some prior working knowledge of Photoshop or ProCreate is preferable to build more skills through this workshop.
Branding 101 for Creatives
Date:
September 17, 2024 6:00 PM
Where:
Via Zoom
Capacity:
Maximum of 25 participants
In the current art world and market, a strong brand foundation is key to success in your creative field. In this workshop, Corinne Dodenhoff will guide participants through the basics of crafting a solid brand identity to support their practice. Workshop participants will develop the tools necessary to use their unique voices as marketing tools to procure job opportunities, attract clients' attention, and further their own creative careers.
Topics discussed include the Basic 101 of Brand Identity (what is it, how it's used, etc.), including terminology, research, development tips, and processes to support you in developing your brand. The objective is for all students to walk away with confidence in how to use these tools to create flexible brand kits for their own practice
Self-Led Learning
Introduction to the Mural Cloth Installation Technique
Learn about the Mural Cloth installation technique with muralists Malachi Floyd & Nathaniel Lee. This short video will give artists a brief introduction into this method of mural production.
