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Experiencing Philadelphia's Mural Art Program
story by Tara Nolte, photos by Carl Bomberger
On Wednesday, October 27th, students from the EHS Gifted Program, along their advisors Mr. Carl Bomberger and Mrs. Tara Nolte, visited Philadelphia to tour the city’s outdoor mural program. They were accompanied by 11 students from the EMS Gifted Program and their advisor, Ms. Heather Mohr.
The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program was started in 1984 in an effort to eradicate the graffiti crisis plaguing the city. Since then, the Mural Arts Program has produced over 3,000 murals.
As striking as the murals are themselves, they are, most importantly, the visual products of a collaborative grass roots process in communities. The mural-making process gives neighborhood residents a voice to tell their collective stories, a way to pass on culture and tradition, and a vehicle to develop and empower local leaders. Mural Arts’ mural-making process also engages thousands of Philadelphia’s at-risk children, youth, and adults who find their artistic voice, develop their self-confidence, and discover new ambitions while creating murals through numerous programs.
The Mural Arts Program has become a national leader in arts in criminal and restorative justice, currently offering educational programs in local prisons and rehabilitation centers using the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in communities.
Muralists from around the world come to Philadelphia to be trained in mural-making. Philadelphia has become synonymous with murals, and murals have never been more popular. Mural Arts' efforts have earned Philadelphia international praise as the “City of Murals.”
