Training & Development
Join other artists, organizers, and community members in expanding your skills, network, and experience in community engaged public art practices.
Workshops & Learning Sessions
Annual Programs
Philadelphia Muralist Training Program
Open to Philadelphia Regional Artists
January through March
In-person Training and Experiences
Synchronous Learning in Online Classroom
DEADLINES
Friday, November 1st 2024
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. In addition to the sample materials provided for artists to practice for their next project, students will gain:
- A comprehensive overview of the community mural-making process – from contracts and developing a community engagement strategy to design approaches and mural production.
- Instruction on mural-making techniques, the “cloth” (polytab) method, production materials, and promising practices.
- An opportunity to acquire hands-on skills and share your work with fellow artists.
Fee to Participate:
Tuition for muralist training is offered on a sliding scale of $300-$500. We encourage individuals who identify with historically dominant majority groups to contribute at the highest level, which helps subsidize participation for individuals from historically marginalized communities, ensuring greater access and inclusivity for all.
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 for Mural Artists
open to artists worldwide
Summer
Hands-on experiences and site visits
Follow up Consulting & Support
DEADLINES
Spring 2025
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.
Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists
open to artists living in Philadelphia
Ongoing
Every Spring
Offering Support & Capacity Building
DEADLINES
Spring 2025
Fellowship for Black Artist mixer at the Fleisher Art Memorial, April 30, 2022. Photo by Akeil Robertson.
The Fellowship Program focuses on building essential pipelines for flourishing art careers through mentorship, professional development, and long-term creative connections. Each year, 15 fellows are chosen to participate in this exclusive year-long program that culminates in an annual group show at a prominent gallery space. Fellows receive a stipend and early one on one professional development sessions to determine how best to grow and excel during their cohort year. The fellowship provides:
- 2,000 dollar stipend in unrestricted funding
- Grant Writing Class, Financial How To's; and Setting up an LLC
- 1:1 mentoring chats with curators
- Professional networking opportunities & speaker series
- Professional Headshots; Marketing Yourself; Pitch Deck How To's
- Opportunities to design and participate in projects and programming
- Regional Field Trips to arts/cultural institutions
Eligibility
The Fellowship is open to African-American or Black artists residing in Philadelphia who have not worked for Mural Arts Philadelphia in a Lead Artist capacity within a year of their application date.
Stay Tuned for application information and deadlines in early 2025 for the next cohort.
Mural Arts Philadelphia Summer Internship Program
open to recent graduates worldwide
June through August
Hands-on Experience in Philadelphia
Minimum age requirement:
18 years and older
DEADLINES
Stay tuned next Spring!
Partner Paint day at Philabundance, August 9, 2023. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Every year, Mural Arts Philadelphia seeks dedicated individuals for our Summer Internship Program to work alongside a professional muralist for a paid internship. This is a great learning experience for any artist and a way to gain solid mural-making experience.
workshops
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
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.
Mural Cloth Workshop
Date:
Coming again soon!
Where:
1727-29 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Registration deadline:
Let us know if you'd like us to update you when the dates are set!
Join us for a Mural Cloth (Polytab) Workshop, taking place this spring. This session is open for artists currently or soon-to-be involved in a Mural Arts Philadelphia project during the 2024 season. The workshop will be facilitated by muralist Malachi Floyd. Participants will be added to the internal artist database for consideration by Project Managers for future work opportunities.
Navigating Grants for Creatives
Date:
Coming Soon!
Where:
Via Zoom
Registration deadline:
Stay tuned
The workshop will feature a presentation by Dyymond Whipper-Young, who will share her journey of applying for public art opportunities as an emerging artist. Attendees will explore examples of successful grant application design materials, learn about tools for preparing and applying for grant funding, and understand how collaboration can enhance their capacity to secure opportunities
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.
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.
